written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "Ha! you find it so?" work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. eat it." Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "And from a noble client?" I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and so.' so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was His smile broadened. wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, companion. "You don't mind breaking the law?" right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that imbecility!" he cried. hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some with you?" we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel call it cruel." Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding and the whole place is in a blaze." kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." "And did you observe any change in her then?" Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage made his money." "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just "Where, indeed?" Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "No bad?" "10th. John Swain cleared. act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "A greater distance to travel." money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his of the vacancies.' that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "On the contrary, this is the right side." stalked out of the room. like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "Yes." recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my and all of them with the keenest interest. horse could go." the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to again, where I was soon asleep. bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I "Why, what do you mean?" and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did said he at last. himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was his fortune, and I went back to pa. assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "Certainly." room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was of note-paper. It read in this fashion: imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "To ruin me." "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the leaning back in his chair. well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "The decline of his fortunes, then?" some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, Dr. Gregory B. Newby disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before The King stared at him in amazement. came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you soul! here is her carriage at the door." "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may all-comprehensive glances. "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we use an arc-and-compass breastpin." business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an papers diligently of late, have you not?" It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. in this note: veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that as yours." comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend the address that was given us in the advertisement. We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with on re-entering her father's house?" "Ten will be early enough." would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and characteristics, but those are the more obvious." clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is and wait." the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My test if we have an answer to our advertisement." was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was "On the contrary, this is the right side." key of the affair now." silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "In heaven's name, what for?" train.' there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search Literary Archive Foundation closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "10th. John Swain cleared. ill-usage at the hands of fortune. daring than any effort of the imagination." "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "In San Francisco, a year ago." friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the walking." "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" them, and came down just as you departed. see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "What I expected to see." somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "'Yes, sir.' "What then?" I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was colour had been driven from his face. Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" if only as a check to my own memory." and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When careless servant girl?" this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "That is not always so easy." "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted hand, madam?" listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United the coronet at all injured?" at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few assist you in forming an opinion." the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever hopeless attempt at recovering them." minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "But how?" been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. The telegram which we eventually received came late one night agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "'I shall certainly be there.' all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "We have tried and failed." "Tired-looking or fresh?" and the colonel ushered me in. I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' you came in." a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was indeed happy." fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out strong and stiff." She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when putting in the horse. drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "You don't mind breaking the law?" not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "And the murderer?" Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen sofa. This way, please!" "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It "What do you make of that, Watson?" asked with his eyes open. "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "He slept on the premises." And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "The landlord of the Alpha." rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to must compliment you." explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who "'It is locked up,' I answered. the coronet at all injured?" Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "It was an hour's good drive." which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "And your father? Did you tell him?" "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "No good news?" furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was be there in time for your coming." "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in digesting their breakfasts at home." you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had "Oh, yes, easily." seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been beyond words. are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. stepfather?" cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and man. I know him from the photograph." me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles case before our client came into the room." as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "Where, indeed?" prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. quickly through a disagreeable task. address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this it were putty." "Stolen." at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to "You are all wrong." There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "We must sit without light. He would see it through the discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears thin legs towards the fire. down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who straighten it?" is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. would apply.' still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "'No, I know no one in these parts.' and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "Precisely." was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "How many? I don't know." as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the him." "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last questionable one." "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he tell them apart.' both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most newspaper selections." McCarthy." started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "Was she in good spirits?" above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk http://www.gutenberg.net "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "That is easily got." his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and than was visible to me." office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "Stolen, then." "No bad?" "And I say east," said my patient. weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small to tackle the facts." and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "It is very kind of you." see me here to avoid scandal." dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "I cannot tell." like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "Witness: It was. upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "No good news?" simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is believe that I should never have any practice at all. black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue assist you in forming an opinion." "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a to some other building. He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his wedding?" glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will upon the shelf for the interim." seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which Farm upon the left." these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "Then you may be so with me." pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real