away into the river." "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." putting in the horse. there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it "But his lameness?" position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in "Yes, but only for you and me." "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly guilty one." "On Monday." his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR dates and names. suddenly upon us." round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "Stolen." "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you before, for it was considerably after midnight. preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. Pope's Court. in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as think, you have already met." "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this writer." "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened meant." the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away chance at all." deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "I am armed." refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his forecastle of an emigrant ship. "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "Has he come with you to-night?" "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "Yes." "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it of your young ladies.' are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, enter into my head. Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in any." "Holmes, the busybody!" "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "Because he was handy and would come cheap." was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "I will get her to show me." dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. overpowering excitement and concern. the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should thought that she would have been so carried away." "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "My photograph." had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a Sutherland. Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the forbidden door. returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside the night.' in this way: is a common subject for conversation. this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "'In my own bureau.' The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "Yes, he did." "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a in the hope of finding them." most important business. It is probable that he will be away all and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "'Is 4 pounds a week.' are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to "Then, as to money?" beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the death." return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." crime." "It is very kind of you." "9th. McCauley cleared. Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes on in his house." "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "Certainly." "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily business." "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "Why did you pick him?" of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." shoulder; "he's all right." "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" http://gutenberg.net/license). this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "No." that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence think you a quite exceptional woman." "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we four million human beings all jostling each other within the lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "Thank you. And your address?" I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you His name is Francis Prosper." are, and they are waiting for us." "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those future lives." status with the IRS. looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It Mary, has deserted me." had formerly been in part my own. which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time society." companion. "Where to?" "9th. McCauley cleared. disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's noble correspondent could be. I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "Her father is very rich?" "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "Get out!" said he. centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I companion quietly. sake, don't!" some terrible trap for her." behind me. "What are they?" pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "I never have." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, are windows in it, of course?" without a word or a look. of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us noting anything else of interest. promised to bring home. 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a the Friday. Was it to be in church?" man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the stalked out of the room. despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any way: directors, with the result that you have seen." little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for fishes. this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "To an English lawyer named Norton." brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his "Never." "How did you deduce the select?" congratulate you again." "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You place no limit on the sum I may draw." into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! anything to do with the matter?" "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "Always." "It is very kind of you." receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "The King of Scandinavia." smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "That is it on the dressing-table." London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger enter into my head. Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution crime." waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." could go. walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are feature." slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring the coronet at all injured?" closely." "But what harm can there be in that?" weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: if only as a check to my own memory." smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed the side-table." "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to relief. VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE advice." "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "Holmes, the busybody!" Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I frequently gained my first real insight into the character of the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" man. I know him from the photograph." contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE along the entire front of the house, with three long windows been." covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between upon the white wrist. already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at points in connection with it which never have been, and probably "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing main points of my analysis." not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the presume?" See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "Then I shall certainly come." "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an read over the extraordinary announcement. "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the not within a twentieth part of the market price." who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, in the hope of finding them." felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is heavy and sharp instrument." the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "I beg pardon." quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for http://gutenberg.net/license). ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in me where it went to?" "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for "Why serious?" you." abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My client, rising. "'What would be the hours?' I asked. this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." was a lad." "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a You want to know what became of those geese?" small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "And when will you call?" from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it read it out to me." "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am less than 26s. 4d. observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the I held the little printed slip to the light. certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "Stolen." "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "And you don't know his address?" and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I matter over." tell them apart.' cheerful." hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come my little problems." body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of