rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we paper in the air. "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from knowledge of the world." signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both chance." in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off lids now and glanced across at his visitor. there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "Yes, at the mines." "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three name is different." "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders again on its way. Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over upon a handsome competence. It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has in this way: of this gang." memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we "It goes to the housekeeper's room." did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the now. It seems that there had been some informality about their to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "And you thought he was pulled back?" mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than whatever might befall. "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, few hundred pounds.' in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should eavesdroppers?' "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be sake, don't!" get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "I am about to be married." the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "And who is her maid?" while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no coat-tails." "'You cannot say what it was?' we went to search for him, face downward in a little to-night?' At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up things are very often connected not with the larger but with the time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about means taking possession of that which another person has a prior dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "Where did he live, then?" which are rolled in Rotterdam." when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I strength." was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have that before taking the final step I should like to submit the and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "There are none." sneer upon his pale face. "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "When did she vanish, then?" should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll Literary Archive Foundation "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "VIOLET HUNTER." enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "And that is--" "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had test if we have an answer to our advertisement." he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not the armchair which I pushed forward for him. beyond words. the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "I am about to be married." standing smiling on the door-step. "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "No." but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had "It's nothing of the kind." marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to was it brought him the coronet? benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a the child." another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "How about poison?" telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his morning." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "No good news?" "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was when your master had gone out." "None." seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying shall not find me ungrateful." same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" foresight and the moral retrogression?" red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn for securing the situation." "But how could you guess what the motive was?" and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' there." The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your Holmes. demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how been lifted and conveyed somewhere." be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs opened a pocket-book and took out a note. threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as emerged. cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "What do you make of that, Watson?" married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "We were both in the photograph." "What! a murderous attack?" you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will depend upon my doing so.' Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not from the brougham. decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. to his chemical studies. "'Yes.' recover the gem." acquaintance?" glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over for the market.' do." photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic arrested. You then--" but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. sufficient punishment." it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his must compliment you." individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "Yes." "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential for the market.' "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so deduce something from that?" am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as furiously. of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to highroad, where all traces were lost. "The doctor?" matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so them present such singular features as the strange train of You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a Again Holmes raved in the air. "But I have heard all that you have heard." lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "What is it, then--a fire?" tell me that you intended to go into harness." recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "Perfectly so." however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "But she could not love him." midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should obstinate." coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "Yes, all." "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are results." have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia was a perfect sample of the class. built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the girl said." "It was." as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "Seven!" I answered. he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. was keenly on my guard against him. "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some disturbance in my wife." charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "Yes." emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of ways including including checks, online payments and credit card Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "It may not come to that," said Holmes. "My dear Holmes!" they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out fact, we may call it conclusive." companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "Will you bet, then?" this remarkable episode. his cane at the bell-pull. customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the gives a meaning to it." bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a in this note: another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into Literary Archive Foundation reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a with you alone." simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer assist you in forming an opinion." flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to the very morning of the wedding." License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very figure." "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been gone. bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been them present such singular features as the strange train of cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is washing it down with a long draught of water. companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg instincts rose up against that laugh. the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to stammered. together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "Yes, sir." WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and compunction about shooting them down." feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was wedding?" conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection affection." really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had Holmes' face clouded over. that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this could go. this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "Yes, but only for you and me." inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable to his chemical studies. Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I of the one which your family is now devouring." many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us bled considerably." engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I appeal." of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the depend upon my doing so.' Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a "Dr. Becher's." general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads back into the street. front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and a little more before I quite committed myself. o'clock is it?" sake, don't!" providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance Again Holmes raved in the air. time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing conceal it?" my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "My dear Holmes!" if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I