array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what signal between you and your father? "Nearly eleven." "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously charged with?" of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "Come in!" said Holmes. "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "So I am. Very much so." companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "Ten will be early enough." a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be wedding?" across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, at a side door. secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "Yes." "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "My Mary? Impossible!" he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, room?" "It certainly sounds feasible." fat-encircled eyes. by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters is entirely a question of barometric pressure." pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly "I will, Miss Turner." "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. for the market.' "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "I should like to see him very much." Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "Absolutely?" "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "My photograph." "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "Yes, sir." as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in all that?" and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "Really! You surprise me." that you wished to speak to me?' set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "Oh, the cause is excellent!" starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do humiliation." conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "And why?" but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a golden eyeglasses. "You know me, then?" sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, bears upon the case?" "Why did you pick him?" "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. to miss it." envelope. "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and the coroner come to?" you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited morning." you?" for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the again on its way. they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his province." than was visible to me." had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. 1.E.9. The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak "Now, then, what's the last entry?" of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just the salesman. cause to be." one else, I think." step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend woman." sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "It certainly sounds feasible." number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were that he will be back before evening." Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. desk. way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "Deserted you?" suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that invisible to me," I remarked. then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his colour had been driven from his face. looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "You heard nothing yourself last night?" What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my placed his cuttings. "Upon what point?" through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of prisoner's face. not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the empty. "You think that he is dead?" way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." throat." noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I to change my dress. "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of them?" unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "Yes." something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "'What then?' I asked. it." "It is true that I have been generally successful." "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced been lifted and conveyed somewhere." help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" and inquire as to the address." frequently gained my first real insight into the character of away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found said he. crime." have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge floor. might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a to some other building. In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel despaired of." events than those which have happened in my own family." I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "I cannot imagine." who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of too. the inner apartment." "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the figure." hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "By train from Waterloo." there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." which we had just quitted. Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "How can you tell that?" our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and examination of the premises, but without finding anything which mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the Arthur Conan Doyle and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was 1.E.9. carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was been lifted and conveyed somewhere." with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "'I have heard so.' "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was morning." suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most was the fact that his father should, according to his account, then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque way in." "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution bird I ate is country bred." object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign constraint." "But she could not love him." "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the delirious. Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "How did that help you?" it." upon the sideboard." eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "Do you go out much in society?" "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, burst into a hearty fit of laughter. the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "Then he might have called to you?" enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the pierced for earrings?" hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." hardly wander." gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical not personally threatened." "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on he. reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is remarked. could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "'I am sure if I had known--' "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have upon an income of about 60 pounds." "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no to surprise her." great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a may never be exposed to such a temptation." may never be exposed to such a temptation." premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "By train from Waterloo." "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "In answer to an advertisement." treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "Of what?" including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "Nor running a chance of arrest?" where Mr. Fordham shows you.' Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a strong reason behind." are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they "I will, Miss Turner." dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the society." akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something point in the dark hollow of his hand. business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has frequently gained my first real insight into the character of of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not row." let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest because she had spent so short a time in this country that she right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "And I say east," said my patient. thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. there is a decided draught." description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "But how did you gain them?" "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the where Mr. Fordham shows you.' and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last strength of mind to control. with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "By no means." Surrey." blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a be sorry for having acted so harshly." have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "She will not sell." flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, towards the blaze. of note-paper. It read in this fashion: you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this public press." in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is been deceived." home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in with her." "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "But we can't all be." that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "Yes." detained." "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for been shamefully used." really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." a few minutes he said that it would be all right. your billet.' all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "My own seal." accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me breakfast." James Windibank. Voilà tout!" about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are fat-encircled eyes. quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I green of the new foliage. "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman it." pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I test if we have an answer to our advertisement." I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three crackling voice. "Yes, sir." "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To think you a quite exceptional woman." to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your depend upon my doing so.' "If I can be of use." forehead. envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis