and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into did not hear it also.' been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, my room." some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. himself to hunt down. my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. have accepted such a situation. Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the "And why?" "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his James Windibank. Voilà tout!" simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that come either from the window or the door. My attention was to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from now. It seems that there had been some informality about their eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the occurred." other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What you in your example." routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his noting anything else of interest. finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "Then, how do you know?" "And how have you succeeded?" "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in 'please.'" overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "I am about to be married." "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two away to you." "Well, but China?" "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." been shamefully used." really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless keep the flames under. made him keep the appointment." experiences." to-night." can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year bed dies. Does not that strike you?" At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for bearing upon the case." "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the call it cruel." sound at heart." Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny he. 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing Project Gutenberg-tm works. "'Then let me do so?' Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had nothing with him." The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat Pope's Court, Fleet Street." and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this hands. "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "How many? I don't know." own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "Game for a morning drive?" "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. sofa. This way, please!" pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a that before taking the final step I should like to submit the his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as the ceiling. He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I your co-operation." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." not within a twentieth part of the market price." with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless discontent upon his features. corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "Was the window open?" expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat his grey eyes. man. "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that business." Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to throat." time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. vague figure huddled up in the darkness. I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers power." subject to the trademark license, especially commercial drawing your inferences." cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "But not more so than I to find you." to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce said Mr. Holder. "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel do.' Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to do.' future lives." of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "At the wedding breakfast." finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double the date of his supposed suicide." could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang to some other building. one which it was hard to resist. one or two very singular points about this room. For example, you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all bed dies. Does not that strike you?" assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which "What, then?" companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "When did it break out?" you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing his cane at the bell-pull. "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with important." "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent in your London, you will know that the office of the company is Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "I cannot think." mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of suddenly upon us." unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. a room. "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed Clair, of Lee." the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." fait accompli?" "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents "'Stolen!' he cried. Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the "No, thank goodness, she did not." safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. that "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "I have my revolver," said I. "She told me to ask you." off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips spark where all is dark to me." fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money "And that is--" "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss get her out of the way." the coroner come to?" "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well cheerful." and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again Cross for the Continent." there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church enough to aid us in our search." to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "'Yes, it was gone.' there when the Rucastles went away." her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the obstinate." very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." fatally injured? touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "VIOLET HUNTER." dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no golden eyeglasses. value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand three of the beryls in it, was missing. complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said wife's character?" the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated remarked. produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be Lestrade of Scotland Yard." waste of energy." house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have to change my dress. mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't strength." there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my strength in the others." in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something hair?' space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "No sign of it?" "Why serious?" agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin chance at all." Farm upon the left." "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." colour had been driven from his face. been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the crackling voice. man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. over part of the map. "What do you read?" lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together the salesman. "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I the address that was given us in the advertisement. conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had when you have done it." "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "Where did he live, then?" "And Miss Sutherland?" flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "Well, some hundreds of times." freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of questionable one." "At what time?" sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "About a month then." not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." other means.' must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well away into the river." people don't know." month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now key of the affair now." "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the recall any case within my experience which looked at the first beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger were wasted." chemical work which was so dear to him. same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "I cannot imagine." stepfather?" "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in "I should be immensely obliged to you." and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until discontent upon his features. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, conclusions. typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "In the cells." lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said away in different directions, and I went off to make my own stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual ways including including checks, online payments and credit card methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." are, and they are waiting for us." the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round clanging. "But of what society?" go--none." It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "Certainly." but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it it? Did I buy the geese off you?" obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not nonsense.' unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's guilty one." should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your respectable self." "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the yet." "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check for the market.' she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be "A client, then?" difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we other means.' effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in burst into a hearty fit of laughter. me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet