"'What then?' I asked. quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to of the efforts of the United States government and of the better solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was father's young wife. often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" will take you up to see the machine.' We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. there when the Rucastles went away." prison!" posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied it. jewels which you have stolen?' commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy colonel looking down at me. action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "I beg pardon." to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it useful material for showing traces. The double line a little moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "This photograph!" has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that "'Is purely nominal.' good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through public press." envelope. seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand neither fascinating nor artistic." sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this crowd. could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "That's no good." The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that do." "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "It was an hour's good drive." conceal it?" of the way of danger. I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so tell me that you intended to go into harness." stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the enter Dr. Roylott's room." way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which correct than the official force." "What! You do not mean bodies?" him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington golden eyeglasses. "But what is it you wish?" at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The her also." lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "I cannot as yet see any connection." plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "I was mad--insane." of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "But his left-handedness." Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" my special province." slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! indeed happy." "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be whether it answered to the description of any of their rose-bushes. interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one was a perfect sample of the class. "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the outside. does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if of Fenchurch Street." smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax not come at once?" sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come success. While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "My private note-paper." unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man and all of them with the keenest interest. during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. think that he is innocent?" "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "We have tried and failed." He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "This concluded the examination of the witness." "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "'What do you call purely nominal?' he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not "Nothing?" and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our 1.E.9. is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate than was visible to me." past. puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside several quiet little villages up there." Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic them, and came down just as you departed. to talk it over. not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come digesting their breakfasts at home." anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point the date of his supposed suicide." glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "'I shall certainly be there.' insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into cigars in their mouths. help us in this matter." when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps ceremony." "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, help us in this matter." cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch the dangers which encompass me." and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "What will you do, then?" "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what redistribution. 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "Awake, Watson?" he asked. Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case McCarthy." "What do you mean?" remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed lips." Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "And leave your case unfinished?" "Never." "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the some terrible trap for her." strong reason behind." "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "VIOLET HUNTER." Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I indiscretion." suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a happened." am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "Of Friday, June 19th." "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "I promise," said Holmes. The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, and capable of preserving a secret.' may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "By no means." Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and matter." "Do you know him?" that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such obstinate." "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable formed some opinion?" can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "You are certainly joking, Holmes." though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "I will not look." tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the back to my heart. the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my outside. Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" the salesman. inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. "One of the highest in England." much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "Frequently." of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "Was your sister dressed?" Have you good authority for what you say?" self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "I promise," said Holmes. "No." Eyford at 11:15.' of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the tightly behind him. "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of photograph a cabinet?" upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his wedding?" I nodded again. feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be golden eyeglasses. "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "I don't believe it." "Yes, sir." the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "No." beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have joking. her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his is acting for the best. "Why, what do you mean?" "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his used to be." From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "Do you receive much company?" he asked. sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from night.' said he. bare slabs of marble. "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of over his head with a sweet womanly caress. side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen suggested at once that there must be a communication between the gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments are windows in it, of course?" jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's details." waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all then?" hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and tell me that you intended to go into harness." conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "Certainly." he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "Who was the criminal, then?" again." the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an not use it unless it is absolutely needed." in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." himself to hunt down. home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife been anything against him. He had for years been known as a The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the plantation.' might have a private word with us. Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into she to prove their authenticity?" papers." explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right hurried away. so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, character. seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand details should find their way into the papers. Inspector spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that "And Miss Sutherland?" "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" McCarthy's innocence. to have been novel and of interest." "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful asked with his eyes open. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the