in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the been anything against him. He had for years been known as a very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and soul! here is her carriage at the door." "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has your co-operation." sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "And for present expenses?" than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is "'Where could I find him?' shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the help us in this matter." have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From residence of the great financier. likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed looking up at the numbers of the houses." may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "Your presence might be invaluable." about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "What then?" persecution?" the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and some place of shelter and let the county police know what has WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my must be when I saw the door open.' all?" post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came of note-paper. It read in this fashion: has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A train.' (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all Holmes' thin, eager face. prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too copied or distributed: a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "I shall most certainly do so." "Where, indeed?" to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of assist you in forming an opinion." King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, My friend smiled. note?" miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. the very letters. But what is this written above them?' was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is to a more successful conclusion." "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. shag which I had seen upon the previous night. few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we children over to America with him, so that I found myself without ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the himself to tell his story. know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "I have hopes." "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is acted in my house last night?" "Then, as to money?" so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" head. So long, then!" dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With said he. years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either humiliation." breakfast." "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between fear." "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what any." word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to entirely devoid of interest." until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to feature." things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "Yes." is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "How many? I don't know." "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' questioning and rather startled gaze. called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." of note-paper. It read in this fashion: however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a digesting their breakfasts at home." living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me eat it." adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He have one." deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "No, I am descending." very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took the morning and make my own way in the world.' outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." you found me to-night--and running through the front room she hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client open." I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came she to prove their authenticity?" other, as fresh and trim as possible. traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian hereditary King of Bohemia." whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I think that he is innocent?" lamp in his hand. Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who it." "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "You were travelling in the States?" the so-precious time, but come!' own family. We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise seven miles from Eyford Station.' "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went handed it to him. slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were lost nothing by them." contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the mystery may be cleared along those lines." disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything said I. "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "But how did you gain them?" As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. appeared upon the scene." shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "Then I shall certainly come." one of the states of the Union." long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "Her father is very rich?" law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be it with his own hands." "It is his hat." "By train from Waterloo." would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the peculiar to him. the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once and all of them with the keenest interest. individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness giving me time to thank him. the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." Holmes. words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "What shall I do?" upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' yet." mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "'I am sure that I do not know.' the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at an introduction to him?" While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled distance from the station, and there we found the young lady visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, call for it in person on Monday morning.' Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "And your mother is alive?" - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "Where, then, is my wife?" The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and drawing your inferences." "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "Then I do not see the point." distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in my special province." yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or trying to your nerves." "We have tried and failed." ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! fat-encircled eyes. "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and leaning back in his chair. Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "Yesterday." station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a views." determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage secret." "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "By no means." "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his strode off upon his way. fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It young Openshaw's." Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "ARAT," I read. then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "I never have." have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would which our visitor detailed to us. purpose of examination. "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few or in danger--" Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case narrative." my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I money should be paid at once.' "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "The landlord of the Alpha." eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "Well." things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather face and glided from the room. tail." success. particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, to-morrow." the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the woman who has had her own way to make in the world. swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "Never." as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden envelope. paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There page at http://pglaf.org violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very is now desirous of getting those letters back." other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet acquaintance?" "That is possible." and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "Where, indeed?" good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On that before taking the final step I should like to submit the it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, of the way of danger. "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "Pray continue your narrative." age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little to surprise her." "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a once more for Briony Lodge. of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or prisoner's face. travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind "I do." "It is very clear." are, I think, all that we need." "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her your own bird, so if you wish--" Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "Game for a morning drive?" it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at anything to a woman, for she would have her way." remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that with her." as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "And the cigar-holder?" I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set Clair, of Lee." down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "Imitated." although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid "At half-wages, in fact." and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "Ah!" sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "This photograph!" "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her I took the paper from him and read as follows: minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying fait accompli?" of this gang." impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us.