Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, spark where all is dark to me." "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we nonsense.' out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "Did you become engaged then?" "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in face and glided from the room. to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in garden below. "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am important." human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "Yes, sir." 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 had a long day." "'Where to?' seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a awkward doing business with an alias." "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "Where, indeed?" back alive. disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between someone who had been in Australia." her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "And now?" He raised his hand. for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "And how in the world did you find them?" grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman is so. I know all about McCarthy." "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had mystery may be cleared along those lines." really the only notable feature about the thing." with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the long narrative. "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand plantation.' kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "How many? I don't know." signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "Then, how do you know?" family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as one or two very singular points about this room. For example, could gather together that I was able to avert another public mysterious end." "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good constraint." she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be seen the man in the road." "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "Yes." companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "I saw her in conversation with her maid." morning." the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely ways of our fellow-men." it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an said I. Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "You did not overhear what they said?" "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! had no one to advise her at such a crisis." exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is possible that we could bring him back to her? already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered disturbance in my wife." against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to least a fellow-countryman. good-night and bustled off upon her way. "I was mad--insane." "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers singular points about the case. What did the police think of the the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these Heh?' qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." fear." Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "Yes, sir." which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his miles off. examine." and prosperity to your house. Good-night." nonsense.' skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a in a very precise fashion." six. Come in!" how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and just ask you whether you had heard it.' a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on me what he had done with the three missing stones. "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that opened a pocket-book and took out a note. any more." remarked. with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "That is not always so easy." I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence "I shall be delighted." my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my recover the gem." "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project said he, "my real name is James Ryder." complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my now. It seems that there had been some informality about their dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, of receipt of the work. seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I where we are going." subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "Of what day?" it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful dramatic, in fact." myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at them present such singular features as the strange train of against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "At the wedding breakfast." however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. will be renamed. struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's of Fenchurch Street." did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and means taking possession of that which another person has a prior footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "What!" he roared. through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "That is it on the dressing-table." the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his quickly through a disagreeable task. son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "Not in a good cause." him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "Now, then, what's the last entry?" landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked Literary Archive Foundation to Leatherhead. us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that along the entire front of the house, with three long windows detective. broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, allusion to a rat. Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "We must sit without light. He would see it through the chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "'And the work?' "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was enough to aid us in our search." fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "I promise," said Holmes. became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham taking in every detail of the apartment. Sutherland?" am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "Certainly." "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "Pray tell us what has happened to you." would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere she has been waylaid. There has been no result." follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and like gravel from a pit.' "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "Yes, he did." "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "Nothing?" Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "I assure you that I am in your hands." "And why?" "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over the inner apartment." "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just breakfast and whispered something to her husband. boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, bled considerably." "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed who was a member of your goose club." second window is the one that I jumped from." fire. You quite follow me?" I am not easy in my mind about them." so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite arrangements." he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and anything to do with the matter?" half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, was lame." to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, to change my dress. freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" these bleak autumnal evenings." were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours You want to know what became of those geese?" are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the long narrative. narrative." police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "I cannot say that I have." Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up "Dr. Becher's." "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of confronted him. "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some true." before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt following enigmatical notices: roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, unkempt, staring out at me. WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. me." young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real second window is the one that I jumped from." Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about criminal. We have already had experience of such." "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the morning." lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found in the hope of finding them." outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded them?" hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "I have solved it." feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I all?" Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." her also." resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. way in everything. "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. assist you in forming an opinion." "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "From his hat?" on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close do." coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough on in his house." crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is showing my impatience. "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, and effective." "Thank you. Pray proceed." be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, just ask you whether you had heard it.' "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact weary and pale-looking. "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." to surprise her." studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "I have seen the police." "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." stalked out of the room. the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. again on its way. nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite over here." instituted." "But what harm can there be in that?" snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who lost his Christmas dinner." "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." hurried away. Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." him, that man would not have given me such complete information "A greater distance to travel." willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said the King without delay." "'Certainly,' I answered. suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross