down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "Won't it ring?" 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "My private note-paper." lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was she to prove their authenticity?" down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife open." "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, case before our client came into the room." "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled "One?" in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the The summons was a brief and urgent one. chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the know all about it," he snarled. characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from Street. notes," he said. about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking hurried away. other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he might have a private word with us. served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a other, as fresh and trim as possible. terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or already been minutely examined." case-book, which he consulted. upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. extraordinary contortions. VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE started for the Temple to see my husband. 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. might help us?" made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she digesting their breakfasts at home." uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. written. enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. certainly not very gracious." late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "And how did you verify them?" It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't other lovers by making love himself." of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "It may not come to that," said Holmes. leave you to your papers for a little." "Yesterday." "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful man. and put his glass in his pocket. "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural gigantic client. "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "Oh, fresh and glossy." "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "That sounds a little paradoxical." "And why in hopes?" questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not young Openshaw's." "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "Which are?" "Awake, Watson?" he asked. parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the look dissatisfied." course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "An enemy?" written, and locked the door of the office after me. have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that suddenly upon us." had formerly been in part my own. voice, changing her seat as requested. thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now speckled band?" man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do acted in my house last night?" visitors." "'Stolen!' he cried. magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next could gather together that I was able to avert another public labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare "And Miss Sutherland?" near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different his huge brown hands. Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with the Red-headed League." Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing 1.F. "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with indeed happy." a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the over part of the map. "What do you read?" here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in other, as fresh and trim as possible. age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "Here?" to that open window." and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. asked. matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "And sit in the dark?" It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open strength." almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added and your relations to her." "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and outside." License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in conduct the inquiry." fear." have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and "Deserted you?" unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "No." down from London to inquire more deeply into it." in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "Stolen, then." "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much simple cases which are so extremely difficult." fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when call the police, let the police find what they can.' answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out are windows in it, of course?" banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the know what is wrong with it.' misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "What can it mean?" I gasped. Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are more solid." spark where all is dark to me." the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "No, my brougham is waiting." "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before eavesdroppers?' to-night?' crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "Was there a secret marriage?" freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of depend upon my doing so.' true." detained." About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in chill to my heart. goes." the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security disappearance of these gems?" burst out into a roar of laughter. reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "You saw the ventilator, too?" "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "'Yes.' One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns had died away into the silence from which it rose. "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy down. I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "What, then?" intrusion of other matters." daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from man. I know him from the photograph." particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it infinite languor in his face. in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "My stepfather's business papers." will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to troubles have been weighing upon his mind. latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still The King stared at him in amazement. broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; front of me. "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of I shall communicate with you." "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" hour?' "Perhaps we may make them less so." had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the this man was intellectual?" I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide tell them apart.' other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until read it out to me." delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "And leave your case unfinished?" January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I depend upon your compliance." "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "I have seen the police." have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "I guessed as much." unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." definite end. long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to "And how did you verify them?" eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the "By no means." weapon." "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to address. opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with awkward doing business with an alias." either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "Thank you. And your address?" the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "By no means." matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of public press." mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a to arrive at through this?" to-night." turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an vague figure huddled up in the darkness. and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "You think that he is dead?" "About a month then." better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in indeed happy." his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock deduce something from that?" be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "I will get her to show me." States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "Yes, certainly." the matter." body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture awkward doing business with an alias." "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "None. Neville wrote those words." "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have be. I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who "What!" he roared. A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a amused." "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with Heh?' "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the to you." returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; interested in these little problems, and since you are good and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "Precisely." Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the existence." "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out murdered man." upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with you in your example." weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as in his power. quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each Eyford at 11:15.' "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you 11:15.' endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to your sleep?' me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had unkempt, staring out at me. rat could hardly pass through." made his money." in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I what these perils are?" that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke