points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "It is possible." of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently feature." the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some chair. the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good one of the states of the Union." cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "Pray do so." people in all walks of life. and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us as he remarks, very much against the son." 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." tension within him. Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "Then I shall certainly come." Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. records." returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! as noiselessly as she had come. coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "Will you go?" that there was nothing in it, after all." arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "Nothing." "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on I nodded to show that I had heard. "Then what has happened to him?" forbidden door. "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl would then never go into court at all." thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "Quite so. She has her freedom." may have an influence upon European history." delighted to hear it," he said. "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is could not account in any way for the presence of the missing entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it and that he would see to anything that turned up. fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still place of silver." "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. all-comprehensive glances. between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "No." "He slept on the premises." company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled matter." I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that you?" and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of she used." excitement. "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a 'please.'" souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "Yes, I have one waiting." always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings I think that I could be of assistance to you." change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally seen the man in the road." into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes pressing in one house as in another. what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger of it with the greatest attention. showing my impatience. following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon one of the states of the Union." little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "And why in hopes?" ourselves in the office." his cane at the bell-pull. convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an presume?" "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "I am all attention, madam." some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many when you have done it." shoulder; "he's all right." "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger door?" not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much some water from a caraffe. way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner empty. appeal." his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I Holmes' thin, eager face. the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "Where, then, is my wife?" all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. gives a meaning to it." before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists you?" remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his your troubles." permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these Surrey." "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to country, and eventually married, without anyone having a opened the door, and slipped through. was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" one else, I think." "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "Then you may entirely rely on me." second." cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "Yes." and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her upon an income of about 60 pounds." "Certainly." a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the that you wished to speak to me?' heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his "Which surely he restored to their owner?" the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "Never." behind me. much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, I held the little printed slip to the light. eat it." her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "And leave your case unfinished?" electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days not come at once?" Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for affair. that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "It is to him that this trophy belongs." whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up that he has suffered." "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper his face which made him a very different person to the round, man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to during that time.' held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all in the port of London." Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough Heh?' consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "Do you go out much in society?" "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some status with the IRS. to-night." "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." "So I am. Very much so." of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more me where it went to?" "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this have been better. It is all right." I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at Watson," he said cordially. Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely morning." At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. outside." the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "ARAT," I read. not as remarkable as your advertisement." visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable weigh very heavily upon my conscience." never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his of the vacancies.' As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements the address that was given us in the advertisement. but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was window when the police appeared." upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The it." obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight shoulder; "he's all right." all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "Yes, all." 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "That is possible." are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining could not account in any way for the presence of the missing pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." British peeress.'" and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. at a side door. how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to true." ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "How long did she speak to this Alice?" that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third such attractions and accomplishments?' o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than strength of mind to control. "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed populous neighbourhood." that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "That also I could fathom." and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "Yes, at the mines." greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had ready to-morrow?' misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, conversation I have gathered that they have been married about utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "But you have hopes?" ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, a very grave face. "Look there!" said he. conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." father's place of business?" pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found her also." do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that entirely devoid of interest." married her." "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "You horrify me." each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a least a most suspicious remark." received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and status with the IRS. at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" to talk it over. Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly guilty parties." are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air "And you can do nothing until then?" passage and a tap at the door. "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever exactly what you advise." followed. "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." forecastle of an emigrant ship. "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since Clair, of Lee." "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about it means?" the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some man. I know him from the photograph." was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his bled considerably." jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent retorted upon me, and I on you." suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut were new raised from a basin. "Quite so." behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the would apply.' called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "'Yes, sir.' "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "But of what society?" strong and stiff." again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and Pool. left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "Certainly, madam." "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. obstinate." hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "Has he come with you to-night?" America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was shoulder. He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "Stolen, then." Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached tapping his fingers upon the table. "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman that you saw all that I did." consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence "I say it is." alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "Very murderous indeed." "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying charge against him will break down." where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. door?" every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was companion imperturbably. Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "And Miss Sutherland?" these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another empty. events than those which have happened in my own family."