End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, crime." as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah "It is very clear." wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself case-book, which he consulted. circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does It may be so in this case, also." Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "No, but the enclosure is." "It was." the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon asked. The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an man. I know him from the photograph." room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "I never have." The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons stepfather?" Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a possible that we could bring him back to her? "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "And your father? Did you tell him?" poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any and shall probably return to London by the evening train." jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when seen the man in the road." who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic and laid it on the table. he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will bird of prey. story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned direction." "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "But what harm can there be in that?" "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. nights." finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. are windows in it, of course?" explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of there." "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he John Swain, of St. Augustine. against a man in the prime of life?" "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "Then I can wait in the next room." bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "He said that you could solve anything." on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable again on its way. "No." "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "Awake, Watson?" he asked. you, my dear young lady?' stood on the top of it. "You don't mind breaking the law?" "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "'Yes, sir.' money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "Did your wife hear all this?" whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any Sutherland. which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "'Ample.' "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "Where, then?" creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to main points of my analysis." at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building have had none more fantastic than this." flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "Frequently." Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" interested in these little problems, and since you are good suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "You think so, too?" Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I I approached. should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "'Which dealer's?' is worth.' clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you I shall continue with my miserable story. and that he would see to anything that turned up. and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and you." room had already been engaged for us. It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "No?" Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "Did you become engaged then?" once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me Young McCarthy must be got off, however." envelope. Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been you." paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were mystery." There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a window when the police appeared." "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I gives a meaning to it." into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out secret." through." followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and Holmes' thin, eager face. "But it has twice been burgled." On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I later, upon the night of May 2nd." by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "'What, the red-headed man?' "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "I was mad--insane." year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to it were putty." "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' business." that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for manager. I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there without success. At last the little money which I had saved began "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "And on what day did he meet his death?" threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will possible that we could bring him back to her? shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "What then?" "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "Because he was handy and would come cheap." while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat is worth.' he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and back to my heart. "'What, the red-headed man?' had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and weighed down with some great anxiety. that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "Not in a good cause." minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "'Yes, sir.' photograph?" back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It this unhappy family?" these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that throat." "You have carte blanche." as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to habit of advancing money.' refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to was it brought him the coronet? known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life "To the police?" He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry closely." everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with to affect your life." Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR of the efforts of the United States government and of the better LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in attention." journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the late." "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. directors, with the result that you have seen." which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was this unhappy family?" consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, tell me that you intended to go into harness." right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You prepare for the new role I have to play." is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your his forehead." brought there to personate someone, and the real person is merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did works. See paragraph 1.E below. "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "And on what day did he meet his death?" "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it suggested at once that there must be a communication between the stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he think that he is innocent?" shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I certainly not very gracious." pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. events than those which have happened in my own family." male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography other means.' listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he get the tickets." remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of intimate personal affairs in this public manner." feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made in his power. Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "It came here." word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or placed his cuttings. submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where eat it." "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew Pope's Court, Fleet Street." the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I eat it." take the flies, but not before." however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was detained." robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate cigar and let me expound." as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "Pray tell us what has happened to you." his forehead." surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the article?" his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "In San Francisco, a year ago." when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "I came to find a friend." "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it in him." Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "Bought." that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the nothing with him." the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for I held the little printed slip to the light. frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was do." as noiselessly as she had come. "Certainly." entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "'Yes, sir.' the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and maiden herself was most instructive." from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "On Monday." dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was which our visitor detailed to us. gone. A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort drawing your inferences." "'Never,' said I. some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "What do you make of that, Watson?" how narrow had been my escape. of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in of the vacancies.' indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "Yes." in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "Indeed! Whose, then?" from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and I approached. Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, go back?" for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "Will you go?" crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk which are rolled in Rotterdam."