glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked crime." society." round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent straightened it out again. is so. I know all about McCarthy." status with the IRS. "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you your own bird, so if you wish--" "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project certainly do as you advise." mystery." done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line Holmes." entirely lost his self-respect." "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the introspective fashion. wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "Why did you beat the pavement?" "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "Never." all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an "My own seal." into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he promised to bring home. of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous mysterious end." "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a not interfere, come what may. You understand?" watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if evidence," I remarked. than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "And who is her maid?" "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If read it out to me." than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest you came in." streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever stepfather?" from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the affair. observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most our word." chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. or other trace. But how on earth--" about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in Mary, has deserted me." "None." the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, whatever might befall. upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and the general public were present, then?" it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "That sounds a little paradoxical." "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to whole matter to your consideration." searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his lids now and glanced across at his visitor. voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of out." a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and might help us?" "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "No." bird I ate is country bred." corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" Watson," he said cordially. I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, wall." and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found a few minutes he said that it would be all right. at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or to a more successful conclusion." bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were footfalls from the street. believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in never came back." tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon any little problem which you may submit to me." strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" words came to my lips. the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "One of the highest in England." Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "What of the rat, then?" the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the indeed happy." Serpentine Avenue. as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you thirty. mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "Not in a good cause." "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told amused." "Have you her photograph?" asked with his eyes open. whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "How often?" fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely prove to be little relation between the different incidents of written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, such person." 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" During two years I have had three consultations and one small rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and again before evening." the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "And why?" constraint." the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, gigantic client. "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter everything which you would wish to know." afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he me. You must get home instantly and act." out." night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off felt?" labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking "Yes. He waved his hands." 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that for securing the situation." coat-tails." Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in me have 200 pounds?' gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of be. jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" papers." "And did you observe any change in her then?" Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and laugh and put his lips to my ear. and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "You saw the ventilator, too?" once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress is so. I know all about McCarthy." come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and or other trace. But how on earth--" of them has the shutters up.' "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at himself in a perplexing position. Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, depend upon my doing so.' "Certainly." probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the spare." "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on possible that we could bring him back to her? glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." could not account in any way for the presence of the missing straighten it?" the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry strode off upon his way. the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily your billet.' retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you you in your example." "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." already referred to. had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon asked. savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss in his hands." screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "You have compromised yourself seriously." a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but leaning back in his chair. forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "Very murderous indeed." since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm is," said he presently: must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "I see no marks." "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that with you alone." before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in see a sister of mine apply for." bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off said I. thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "'Entirely.' remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "That you are never beaten." is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "It is solved." entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. despaired of." to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith disappearance of these gems?" was already answered. scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose was a lad." grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to beyond words. doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." had picked up in the wood. eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "My private note-paper." occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a "Thank you. Pray proceed." was a lad." preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "They are typewritten," I remarked. to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "It was." the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "No. His orders were to stay in the house." is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever Street. watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "Certainly, madam." brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a "Perhaps we may make them less so." "What do you mean?" out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him "I am still in the dark." in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "I guessed as much." "But I am all in the dark." is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. papers diligently of late, have you not?" "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain status with the IRS. "And why in hopes?" "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "There are none." Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a was not a bird to be seen there. that I am arrested." fire. You quite follow me?" see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards through." "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will character. part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "Witness: It was. weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a leave you to your papers for a little." held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "I say it is." ventilator." nonsense.' "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "'About the same.' circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "You have it, sir, just as it happened." gone. "Why did you pick him?" and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress done what I asked you, Jones?" his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would will not take me long to tell. papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but I leave." "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King I nodded to show that I had heard. PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round room had already been engaged for us. whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the as he remarks, very much against the son." exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "Eh? What was that?" "I cannot think." his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "You think that he is dead?" could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the not fit the lock." to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's along the entire front of the house, with three long windows see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. key of the affair now." test if we have an answer to our advertisement." second window is the one that I jumped from." goes." tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. business." "Well, some hundreds of times." "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since indeed which he could not unravel. going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his six. Come in!" skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he at once, for I have only half an hour." incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That again." whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" "No, thank goodness, she did not." takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not