a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was companion imperturbably. the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the said he. of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so memory. understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so fact, we may call it conclusive." baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "To an English lawyer named Norton." Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "'How far from the body?' to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. should be taken.' Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in impression behind it as though a window had gently closed which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each pity, because in other respects you would really have done very been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "And for present expenses?" think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her for its centre. congratulate you again." case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and know what is wrong with it.' how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily breakfast." One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer useful material for showing traces. The double line a little season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or out." self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "Who by?" "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "Where, indeed?" "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross eavesdroppers?' open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the observed. and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "Thank you. Pray proceed." all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied "And I to find an enemy." derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' the bottom.' "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a your billet.' 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as made his money." his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "But you can know nothing of this?" their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his "Your sister is dead, then?" Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "She walked into the breakfast-room." "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, straightened it out again. "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. directly by questioning you." "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. mystery." tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and said he, "my real name is James Ryder." house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City little adventures." It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through and no precautions can guard against." endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "That is possible." "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a your co-operation." "To the police?" which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "By all means." from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, undoubtedly my uncle's." which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "Dr. Becher's." "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only that, and I came down." province." presented which may be striking and bizarre without being Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "You horrify me!" hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from to have that photograph." ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the papers on the sundial.'" which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a Street. was keenly on my guard against him. "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was that you saw all that I did." McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So made him keep the appointment." hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "Bought." think you a quite exceptional woman." "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible fasten all the windows?" "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "Nothing." compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any present." "An enemy?" the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was is," said he presently: in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "Witness: I must still refuse. "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third 1.F. his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and "Your French gold?" matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or and that he would see to anything that turned up. "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here go--none." particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a is a common subject for conversation. blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight that you wished to speak to me?' in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your my room." in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of problems help me to do so." "Pray tell us what has happened to you." my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the appeared upon the scene." I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, house for five minutes.' "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There wanted for ourselves." "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "The best possible." "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted begin with, and I had not got mine yet." Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come me where it went to?" of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "Have you her photograph?" "Yes." think, you have already met." seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "'It is locked up,' I answered. Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him fled together." have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" the coroner come to?" I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. it right.' advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney bill, which interests me deeply." "No, but the enclosure is." Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. "None." The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted gigantic client. The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater details should find their way into the papers. Inspector brain must have something in it." written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the flock.' cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." that I can to serve you." head. So long, then!" value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious to change my dress. boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told British peeress.'" my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring directly by questioning you." photograph a cabinet?" my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. but preventing her from injuring another. "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' place of silver." "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "An enemy?" we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "The Cedars?" in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a chance." "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, Project Gutenberg-tm works. eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought always that they were such commands as a lady might with a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "Upon what point?" from you?" minor matters until to-morrow." Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another pity, because in other respects you would really have done very ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And people in all walks of life. to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a said I. which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every But Holmes shook his head gravely. this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "But not more so than I to find you." rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper as he folded up the epistle. "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, desk. "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it next day. "I have my revolver," said I. the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. danger is over." appointment with me for six o'clock?" of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and business came to an end." him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous ago." out of this horrible affair." houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was made him keep the appointment." at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "'Never.' adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he be. "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "But I have heard all that you have heard." the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect that you saw all that I did." the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. some city in a dream. a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection coat-tails." also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come indeed which he could not unravel. the coronet in his hand?" some mystery and the punishment of some crime." "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell any." "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "No, distinctly professional." Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "No." without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "And that is--" of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. him." of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "It certainly sounds feasible." Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "Where, indeed?" their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "Very. But will he see it?" weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At his fortune, and I went back to pa. sofa. This way, please!" machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending into her hand at the door and which lured her within their