eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business to have that photograph." "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and charged with?" "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon later, upon the night of May 2nd." home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table even so self-evident a thing as that." casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But to-night?" I asked. "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "No." must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do fat-encircled eyes. "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles knowledge of the world." by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he the Assizes." and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, over part of the map. "What do you read?" "Where did he live, then?" "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right putting in the horse. slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question upon the sideboard." coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "There are none." "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the the station." was the fact that his father should, according to his account, here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon noble correspondent could be. waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from tell me that you intended to go into harness." "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all his face which made him a very different person to the round, with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my business at Coburg Square is serious." "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, conceal it?" secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and was keenly on my guard against him. "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" and put his glass in his pocket. Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "My dear Holmes!" rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the appointment with me for six o'clock?" "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is name is different." him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "I will try. What is it?" him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible touch that coronet?' is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of and put his glass in his pocket. of your young ladies.' while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle straighten it?" "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "On the contrary, this is the right side." "So I am. Very much so." opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "And Miss Sutherland?" seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg observed. pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "That is not always so easy." in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "Then you may entirely rely on me." "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "No good news?" and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at the side-table." "He is still with you, I presume?" have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country see me here to avoid scandal." you." "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure here." the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two opportunities to fix the problem. bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "But his lameness?" could not have written that. It is the German who is so "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every it." young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of do you make of it all?" written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed the night.' deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "What! a murderous attack?" telegram would bring me down to your help." and no precautions can guard against." soul! here is her carriage at the door." therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as "The best possible." "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away papers diligently of late, have you not?" "I fear not." you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "Eh? What was that?" you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "Has he come with you to-night?" something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him place, I think that there is good ground to think that the similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "At what time?" well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to at my remark. come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to sooner or later she must fall a victim. and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully "Then how many are there?" confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense where Mr. Fordham shows you.' age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "I answered that I had not. "No, I had a dozen." which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "You horrify me!" "You were travelling in the States?" crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told night.' said he. pressing in one house as in another. "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the "I was certainly surprised to find you there." observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. chance at all." quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much disappearance of these gems?" papers diligently of late, have you not?" perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "Yes." clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "And you don't know his address?" purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped power." went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the populous neighbourhood." screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming him and tried to hold him back. considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "Yes, sir." I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. him, that man would not have given me such complete information first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His what I may call a really hard day's work." "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a test if we have an answer to our advertisement." You want to know what became of those geese?" active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "He might." and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and His smile broadened. fashion which was peculiar to him. from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "Yes." heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through are, I think, all that we need." a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "But the mystery?" "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole meanly of me." returning from some small jollification and was making his way "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual little trying to do so much typewriting?" reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late cost them two and thirty pounds." Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "Yes." visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad depend upon my doing so.' green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an "And how?" heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the tear off another piece?' month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "Where, indeed?" "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon detective. exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have suddenly upon us." you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That fluttered off among the others. miles off. pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will felt the room to be a little close.' three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "No, I had a dozen." power." of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you works. served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "You did not overhear what they said?" As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the six. Come in!" of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "You will not go there first?" was a loud and authoritative tap. "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "I am to be neutral?" pictures, libraries, or plate. is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a few hundred pounds.' looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in do." drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "Dr. Becher's." "But she will refuse." I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." will be renamed. is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." acquaintance?" impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to This is what he says: from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would shall not find me ungrateful." wedding?" obstinate." wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the Surrey." subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "A thing like a cleaver," said he. which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "And that is--" I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor on re-entering her father's house?" and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a as the one I chose?' "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up appeal." tear off another piece?' "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "Nothing." ceremony." "Pray continue your narrative." "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "'As governess?' as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would everything which you would wish to know." "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your point our research must commence, and we will begin it by one's self under obligations.' "Just look it up, then." imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "No bad?" the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the leaning back in his chair. himself. the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, upon a handsome competence. He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." questioning and rather startled gaze. eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he look dissatisfied." diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's interested in these little problems, and since you are good estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and all?" "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "To an English lawyer named Norton." wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but detained." hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "Yes, only one." corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting in darkness. "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your just called myself is not exactly my own." the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon foot. had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily learned something! Where are the gems?" "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "Perhaps we may make them less so." had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in Does that suggest anything?" possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. she used."