"How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "You know me, then?" stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of that you can jump it.' and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my persecution?" of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "And the cigar-holder?" "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "Not social, then?" unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs not come at once?" no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight which it had come upon my father." refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they "Ha! you find it so?" temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the the devil!" prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in before, for it was considerably after midnight. "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the furiously. prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said in his hands." twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is remarked. soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. she slowly sank and died without having recovered her side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall of Mr. Rucastle's." imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one I approached. to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most me have 200 pounds?' of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. our word." at once, for I have only half an hour." "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "Then how many are there?" near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "But to whom?" "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in manager. was lame." "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." distinguish the words: gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "I will not look." "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "My dear Holmes!" have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She to have that photograph." "It is possible." took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully question. whatever might befall. This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and look dissatisfied." Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the astonishment. http://www.gutenberg.net all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and acquaintance?" Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter window when the police appeared." wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "That is possible." "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, your only hope of safety." "Very truly yours, bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "You did not overhear what they said?" problems help me to do so." the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "Why did you pick him?" man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "I cannot as yet see any connection." "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even "Pray tell us what has happened to you." one which it was hard to resist. your own bird, so if you wish--" explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the together. world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I name is different." window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "The vanishing of the lady." Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to six. Come in!" seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "We must sit without light. He would see it through the family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. o'clock is it?" these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "Entirely." husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning did not hear it also.' dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the had no one to advise her at such a crisis." nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "Ample." business?" "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "From his hat?" who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his only touch the interest." "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, there were one or two details which were new to me. But the in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, formed some opinion?" Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client During two years I have had three consultations and one small quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought golden eyeglasses. sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "'Yes, sir.' these bleak autumnal evenings." He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "'Stolen!' he cried. only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival out of this horrible affair." lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an families. Now for the facts. "'Ten to two.' "And that is--" low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' observed. endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "What?" "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' results." "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "And your father? Did you tell him?" "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. will take you up to see the machine.' "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. to tackle the facts." with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the ceremony." said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your said he. between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" again on its way. "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the Eyford." go from here to the Strand." despaired of." One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "'Yes.' work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "In San Francisco, a year ago." "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt just called myself is not exactly my own." only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few charged with?" wedding?" man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and you." a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a directors, with the result that you have seen." central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, you in your example." "But your client--" all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "Certainly." objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." me what he had done with the three missing stones. cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the upon the shelf for the interim." how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. since then to throw any light upon what became of him." though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "Holmes, the busybody!" evidence," I remarked. ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is now. It seems that there had been some informality about their deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's works. you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City you found me to-night--and running through the front room she and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "Has he come with you to-night?" you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "He said too much." pictures, libraries, or plate. as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "On Monday." story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and chamber." inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "It certainly sounds feasible." very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of Eyford." editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely giving me time to thank him. Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank indiscretion." which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable murdered man." "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. footfalls from the street. given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his man. shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "It came here." used to be." we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in spare." three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at 1.E.9. my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "Was the window open?" room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "Nothing." ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done that I am arrested." sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "Then I shall certainly come." It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. to talk it over. address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't head. So long, then!" his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and be. conduct the inquiry." horse could go." dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was looking up at the numbers of the houses." idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, chance." said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "'It is locked up,' I answered. Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the cigar and let me expound." "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man what is your own theory as to what took place?" 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "I am to be neutral?" said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a a very grave face. friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, brought there to personate someone, and the real person is while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all frequently gained my first real insight into the character of caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "Were they all fastened this morning?" "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true only touch the interest." not use it unless it is absolutely needed." been shamefully used." while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "Nothing?" do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has