"'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "Texas, I think." it." "Tired-looking or fresh?" "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "ARAT," I read. corner of the building. "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled be. tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the and capable of preserving a secret.' and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "So I have heard." "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then "Of what?" for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of considering the formidable letters which were received by himself got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." waste of energy." "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how experiences." safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the writer." furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' go from here to the Strand." "Yes, that is the Crown." however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her redistribution. complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry fishes. Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is triumphant cloud from his cigarette. colonel looking down at me. waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "At half-wages, in fact." was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note companion imperturbably. "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "My photograph." Watson," he said cordially. that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is papers diligently of late, have you not?" "And you can do nothing until then?" *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "The Coroner: What do you mean? your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who child?' 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a morning." and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "And I to find an enemy." not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, since then to throw any light upon what became of him." matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "But how?" Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "Have you her photograph?" harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "I am about to be married." she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "There is the writing." an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who interested in these little problems, and since you are good "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. maid will bring up your coffee." "That was it, sir." purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." a few minutes he said that it would be all right. 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "A confidential servant?" done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the my secret was safe in his possession. side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in to-night." "Awake, Watson?" he asked. that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may too. "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "'I am sure that I do not know.' October 9, 1890. "And help." understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it asked. playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding are, I think, all that we need." wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged questioning and rather startled gaze. protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "If I can be of use." and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. whether it answered to the description of any of their There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips power." had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in delighted to hear it," he said. "And who is her maid?" one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always becomes even more simple." some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he singular points about the case. What did the police think of the before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the threw himself down with his face to the pillow. scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the 11:15.' compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "'You doubt its value?' he asked. and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "What?" my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "'Yes, it was gone.' approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "Not him." then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "BALLARAT." other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a quick march!" woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "Your presence might be invaluable." "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "'Certainly,' I answered. caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow over with notes and figures. wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: to a light-house. papers must be those that are destroyed.' brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich with some details as to your case." slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of the house with me." aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "Witness: Nothing definite. searched, without anything being found which could incriminate Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it where we are going." he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he opportunities to fix the problem. truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "And when will you call?" "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is was the fact that his father should, according to his account, stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "Well?" me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "The decline of his fortunes, then?" defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, four million human beings all jostling each other within the building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." neither fascinating nor artistic." "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for open." and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "Then I shall certainly come." merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while matter." the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are you." "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, then?" subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural questionable one." luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "No, I had a dozen." if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "And you don't know his address?" matter." Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "But how will you look?" very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been business?" "At the wedding breakfast." have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "I cannot tell." Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "And the cigar-holder?" everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "No, I think that I'll take it." to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are the address that was given us in the advertisement. aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about outside. salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he be.' I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which notes," he said. "'Which dealer's?' by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "Where to?" reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such to a light-house. "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE present." black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "Pray do so." "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the "Well, it is a possible supposition." imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation in his power. at once, for I have only half an hour." thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "'Never,' said I. "And now?" He raised his hand. inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it photograph?" "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for with frightened eyes at his accuser. and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "I think it very unlikely." cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," must be when I saw the door open.' and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so ready to-morrow?' "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that in the port of London." action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast may never be exposed to such a temptation." "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a II. is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful the driver. the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "Could he throw no light?" "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of key of the affair now." "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be of campaign. elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One handed it to him. and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such intimate personal affairs in this public manner." quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "A confidential servant?" not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you I took the paper from him and read as follows: case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, "I see no marks." the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going pity, because in other respects you would really have done very then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two forecastle of an emigrant ship. I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward interested in these little problems, and since you are good the so-precious time, but come!' reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn cigars in their mouths. blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." said I. very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All the roots. of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "But your client--" "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the into her hand at the door and which lured her within their utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if