never came back." great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be whereabouts. old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "Indeed! Whose, then?" you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long married her." passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at like that before?" solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "What have you to say now?" to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "Where, indeed?" Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm despaired of." observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was stood on the top of it. insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "I cannot tell." the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, pictures, libraries, or plate. handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no and the colonel ushered me in. "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until colonel looking down at me. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks has little to do with my story." cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination fishes. "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "I was mad--insane." instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "What! Had he lost his wife?" Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One address. when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "And how?" photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and his eyes and forehead. in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if you, my dear young lady?' know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "'As governess?' "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "When did she vanish, then?" was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. never came back." "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these you give your casting vote to?" of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "Yes." I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought present." Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked his forehead." Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "Yes, only one." another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." putting in the horse. Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project were unconscious?" thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "This photograph!" astonishment. weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "Never." send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, one of them." indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to a suggestive one." Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, have an American origin." read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know wedding?" thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers was a perfect sample of the class. company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and promised to bring home. travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever 'I should be able to look after that for you.' scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and presume?" him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and http://www.gutenberg.net "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home closely." metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of daring than any effort of the imagination." have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover I was concerned in it." of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either Pope's Court. "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in brandy and water within his reach. "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than over with notes and figures. "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage take the flies, but not before." It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "Not yet." 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "I don't believe it." had died away into the silence from which it rose. three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "I don't believe it." "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross But Holmes shook his head gravely. all that?" paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "Pray do so." her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my It was close upon four before the door opened, and a memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to highly," said Holmes. the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under frequently gained my first real insight into the character of that threaten you." handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," province." ashen face. wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, it means?" never will be, entirely cleared up. matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He useful material for showing traces. The double line a little and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the up this clue while it is still hot." endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation the dangers which encompass me." purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "'Is purely nominal.' "It is true that I have been generally successful." any." earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from would then never go into court at all." "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "How on earth--" could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "Oh, fresh and glossy." reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "Yes, all." greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to his fortune, and I went back to pa. had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. James Windibank. Voilà tout!" his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." have had none more fantastic than this." "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before "'Yes, sir.' admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect meanly of me." double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "Yes, he did." "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "And help." "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. round and wave him away like that.' the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not man. been deceived." "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the London for the present?" this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send held up the lantern and gazed about him. nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "He said too much." dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important in a friendly supper." would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but this man was intellectual?" "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at get the tickets." the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' "That is easily got." game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. giving me time to thank him. must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "How did he come?" Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' once more to my work. of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay business in the City. She little knew what. main points of my analysis." bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose evidence," I remarked. explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who "It may not come to that," said Holmes. painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "On the contrary, this is the right side." "And I to find an enemy." had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had the general public were present, then?" what is your own theory as to what took place?" along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his woman." compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for "But not more so than I to find you." the ceiling. affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. and wait." this truth that in these little records of our cases which you has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "'Is 4 pounds a week.' it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, his grey eyes. flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." derbies." States. opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little searched, without anything being found which could incriminate up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes in his hands." my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out *** START: FULL LICENSE *** in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to as he remarks, very much against the son." unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking your only hope of safety." through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and "'I am sure that I do not know.' come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when several quiet little villages up there." "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some "'Is 4 pounds a week.' Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since several quiet little villages up there." "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. soul! here is her carriage at the door." "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. of the way of danger. shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover said I. I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional straightened it out again. have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his