that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's where she found matters as described by the last witness. pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, against a man in the prime of life?" "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "Was he the only applicant?" Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "That is it on the dressing-table." paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee other lovers by making love himself." shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. new duties?' "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "Have you it here?" was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "He disappeared so suddenly." address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my is," said he presently: "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are might have a private word with us. dramatic, in fact." eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "'I have heard so.' "Did your wife hear all this?" an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "That is possible." faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "'I am sure that I do not know.' gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a to affect your life." knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural "I cannot think." "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "No more words. Get out!" "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. constraint." for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, families. Now for the facts. dear old homesteads?" It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "'I have already given you my word.' to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "Eh? What was that?" "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were little adventures." "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer than was visible to me." young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these memory. streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. in the dead of the night?' I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "None." well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me 1.E.9. prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "The vanishing of the lady." sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man are windows in it, of course?" passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside hard-headed British jury." burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "They are typewritten," I remarked. must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him that I may have something better before very many minutes are good-night and bustled off upon her way. the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a I shall continue with my miserable story. walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten "Imitated." "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the awkward doing business with an alias." "In what way?" asked Holmes. Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook letters?" "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "The Coroner: What do you mean? on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I them?" turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is comes from the middle window." elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my sit on the left-hand side of the driver." Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just not within a twentieth part of the market price." "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the a good hundred miles off by now." felt the room to be a little close.' "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "Dark enough and sinister enough." I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the husband's writing, madam." We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "What are they?" had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she opened the door, and slipped through. importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his hand, madam?" me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," States. only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed lips." to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the straighten it?" coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. his cane at the bell-pull. you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, "Did your wife hear all this?" begun to whiten, even as mine has." reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and business came to an end." "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and forbidden door. annoyance, but no jest. absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that several quiet little villages up there." size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is interested in these little problems, and since you are good "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless you for a few hours?" once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your what I may call a really hard day's work." back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for be sorry for having acted so harshly." peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may window when the police appeared." look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that I am not easy in my mind about them." "You have the photograph?" stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of clang of the bell. shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, note?" Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and III. roused himself from his reverie. "You horrify me." in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "What will you do, then?" "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the nice household for a young lady." "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to that I may have something better before very many minutes are is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most heavy and sharp instrument." us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington this remarkable episode. young Openshaw's." as the one I chose?' "What will you do, then?" stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as again on its way. sofa. This way, please!" "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, Does that suggest anything?" follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should "Where did he live, then?" intrusion of other matters." "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at purpose of examination. the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." I have it here in my museum." Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "The King of Scandinavia." assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS you." sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more directors, with the result that you have seen." workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." that the gas is not laid on in his house?" happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out later, upon the night of May 2nd." "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may yet." "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining once more to my work. could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' these bleak autumnal evenings." and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. the little opening for the ventilator is." "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day third from London." observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "So I have heard." "I should like to see him very much." machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." joking. is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of when your master had gone out." important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The at home. "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "'What, the red-headed man?' there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and the King without delay." America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. vault. Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now believe that I should never have any practice at all. "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the success. their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "I am to be neutral?" conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "It was an hour's good drive." labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "And why?" the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a depend upon my doing so.' "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "Holmes, the busybody!" will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "No." thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "Perhaps I have." from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "No, but the enclosure is." "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "My own seal." good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in and wait." Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" that, and I came down." see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. was already answered. our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no the little opening for the ventilator is." years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what "Seven!" I answered. to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "What of the rat, then?" suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and points in connection with it which never have been, and probably and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he before the coroner and the police-court." week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I I have it here in my museum." band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced noise which awoke you from your sleep?" We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were that I am arrested." course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without