was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended if I call to-morrow?" ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had upon a handsome competence. "The King of Scandinavia." "No, but the enclosure is." hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began to where he stood hid behind the curtain. beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. hardly wander." "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "It looks newer than the other things?" "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "But I have heard all that you have heard." you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations From what you have told me I think that it is possible that and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll that threaten you." the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." appointment with me for six o'clock?" this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew anything to do with the matter?" of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles if she died from some sudden fright." there has been an enclosure here!" "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me was keenly on my guard against him. relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door get the tickets." John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she annoyance, but no jest. was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name past. and the whole place is in a blaze." sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not to tackle the facts." "'And the work?' "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "I will, Miss Turner." enter Dr. Roylott's room." one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you "Breckinridge is his name." promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should matter over." "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our could not have written that. It is the German who is so "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is questionable one." charge against him will break down." tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need you." an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which suddenly upon us." approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how was a perfect sample of the class. placed his cuttings. stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. against a man in the prime of life?" noting anything else of interest. the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, secret." "Just look it up, then." three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the take the flies, but not before." of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "Breckinridge is his name." the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." legal crime." however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is here." once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "Then, as to money?" the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "The knees of his trousers." from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "But his left-handedness." glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some may never be exposed to such a temptation." "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "And for present expenses?" clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get nice household for a young lady." "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the charged with?" particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the works. See paragraph 1.E below. entirely lost his self-respect." through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." *** START: FULL LICENSE *** steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "Seven!" I answered. "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls Heh?' dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a bare slabs of marble. "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "Perhaps I have." "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "I cannot imagine." "Then I can wait in the next room." "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she read over the extraordinary announcement. "Not him." cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, writing, and yet I know it well." confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." of them has the shutters up.' "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in and that he would see to anything that turned up. "I will get her to show me." word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant it with his own hands." "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "A greater distance to travel." of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "Murdered?" heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know have one." say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came could go. thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "In what way?" asked Holmes. "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "Pray continue your narrative." photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us have been better. It is all right." unprofitable." importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, dramatic, in fact." It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had directors, with the result that you have seen." "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of front of the hall door has given its name to the place. incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "My photograph." "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "Yes." certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "And how in the world did you find them?" and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "Yes, it would be as well." means taking possession of that which another person has a prior a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "If I can be of use." "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "And why in hopes?" "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "And Irene Adler?" I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "Not social, then?" of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong frequently gained my first real insight into the character of may never be exposed to such a temptation." he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. to-night?" I asked. fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "He is still with you, I presume?" "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed believe that I should never have any practice at all. remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have Again Holmes raved in the air. "Yes, he did." if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while locked." for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that characteristics, but those are the more obvious." effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "You have it, sir, just as it happened." while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more as noiselessly as she had come. "It is very kind of you." that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare that servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I be. reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "'Most admirably.' "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of or in danger--" "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "But not more so than I to find you." made his money." "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two Street. photograph?" step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so was shining brightly. widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace and the church but not where the lady lived." means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of definite end. spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "The murder was done with it." such attractions and accomplishments?' money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "Did your wife hear all this?" true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon "'And the work?' used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east woman who has had her own way to make in the world. Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This hereditary King of Bohemia." present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and public press." "BALLARAT." together. a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "None. Neville wrote those words." so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. locked." their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few purpose equally well?" news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the was keenly on my guard against him. still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and entirely lost his self-respect." especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked gentleman's clothes. kind enough to tell me what I should do." "Is he quiet?" "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "By no means." "Is he quiet?" "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my has little to do with my story." "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a you give your casting vote to?" arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to again." you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the a very grave face. Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "I am following you closely," I answered. springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to relief. my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. unprofitable." all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De Project Gutenberg-tm works. to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "'I have already given you my word.' "Stoke Moran?" said he. abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "And you thought he was pulled back?" evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging remarked.