"Perfectly so." rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of hopeless attempt at recovering them." and put his glass in his pocket. "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. ashen face. "Come in!" said Holmes. Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known long narrative. lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for go--none." "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a national property. I was determined that the law should have its scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. his wife has ceased to love him." returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards "'Where could I find him?' listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" unprofitable." "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each occupations.' answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "'Quite sure, dad.' eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would these bleak autumnal evenings." The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I must be when I saw the door open.' "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "In the cells." "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "At the wedding breakfast." to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, cause to be." common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own voice, changing her seat as requested. License. You must require such a user to return or bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as memory. to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. she to prove their authenticity?" in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, it." "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "And how did you verify them?" saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until clanging. "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. speckled band?" an introduction to him?" He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long instituted." suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "Frequently." copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the even of instruction." woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "I cannot imagine." he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. 'I should be able to look after that for you.' particular state visit http://pglaf.org deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "My opinion is in no way altered." "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for 'please.'" Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "Stoke Moran?" said he. "Very truly yours, "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing introspective fashion. Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "In the cells." very peculiar words of the dying woman?" vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." rose-bushes. common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your undoubtedly my uncle's." at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "At what time?" "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "No?" her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood despair." "My dear Holmes!" "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to closing the door. ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing in a friendly supper." astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over is so. I know all about McCarthy." half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 were wasted." I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the good for you to do.' "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a been." "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "And how did you verify them?" there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide face and glided from the room. real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "'What would be the hours?' I asked. blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really these bleak autumnal evenings." wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "One of the highest in England." Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "And I." walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "10th. John Swain cleared. age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have hopeless attempt at recovering them." of campaign. "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "'As governess?' India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for Does that suggest anything?" between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "Yes, there are nearly always some there." Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "'In my own bureau.' good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if infinite languor in his face. through." had picked up in the wood. suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had some place of shelter and let the county police know what has in the hope of finding them." fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT with you?" dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to even of instruction." "We must sit without light. He would see it through the his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. Eyford." "'I shall certainly be there.' window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the learned something! Where are the gems?" remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "It is a murder, then?" unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I system of imprisonment?" St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my light and attacked it." "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "Yes, they were peculiar boots." home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" a suggestive one." frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower lamp in his hand. "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "A call for help, you thought?" safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord compunction about shooting them down." She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "But he might be a bachelor." dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. without success. At last the little money which I had saved began as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. always that they were such commands as a lady might with and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps even so self-evident a thing as that." to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A upon the shelf for the interim." door?" certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a locked. "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still where we are going." like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." down. Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of woman." room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "No, finished." been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how "'Never,' said I. akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." Lee, in the county of Kent." complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't already referred to. flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three nights." young Openshaw's." comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to meant it for the best. have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "No, my brougham is waiting." Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and go from here to the Strand." depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" London for the present?" hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence presume?" "'And the work?' thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I recover the gem." B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely the very morning of the wedding." "But to whom?" Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you be. "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "My photograph." and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "I was sure that I might rely on you." "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for intimate personal affairs in this public manner." are, and they are waiting for us." here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and the night.' beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "You have carte blanche." pierced for earrings?" "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "'What, the red-headed man?' "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "Yes." "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is someone who had been in Australia." "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same his face which made him a very different person to the round, "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the locked. his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "'I am sure that I do not know.' "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me be best to do. which it had come upon my father." and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "I cannot as yet see any connection." "Have you it here?" The telegram which we eventually received came late one night that I can to serve you." ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." "Not particularly." THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE wall." "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his which I could not give. He asked for Alice. fasten all the windows?" Chief Executive and Director presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler placed his cuttings. at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The geese which you supplied to the Alpha." its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "Perhaps we may make them less so." public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "'About the same.' "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, me, and I could not think that his explanation of the "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,