serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how guilty parties." reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "The knees of his trousers." "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "Where, then?" "'Where could I find him?' the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of up this clue while it is still hot." "I am about to be married." happened." "By all means." "It must be recovered." platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an I held the little printed slip to the light. "That also I could fathom." "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have the King without delay." "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no if only as a check to my own memory." where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that before, for it was considerably after midnight. pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently "Certainly." offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your leaning back in his chair. spark where all is dark to me." "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "Yes." "Yes. He waved his hands." "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "And how did he make his money?" expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I not as remarkable as your advertisement." four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a have one." "And Irene Adler?" the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "Yes, that is the Crown." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB friend's singular character. "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, at once, for I have only half an hour." Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in your equipment. in. "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was British peeress.'" still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry morning." "Yes, all." case-book, which he consulted. his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it wedding?" "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed hereditary King of Bohemia." "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "I am sure." We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the that, and I came down." 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old bears upon the case?" "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal just called myself is not exactly my own." "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "You were travelling in the States?" Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he golden eyeglasses. nothing with him." "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his client, rising. the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "I was sure that I might rely on you." values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform legal crime." had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "Upon what point?" It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "No, I think that I'll take it." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey strength." gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "You'll never persuade me to believe that." himself to tell his story. him to be an active member of the medical profession." But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence "'Where to?' his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My Doctor, of the paper and the date." to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. to-night?" I asked. "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "Pray do so." taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the Dr. Gregory B. Newby lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "Yes, I have one waiting." really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, "You'll never persuade me to believe that." man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his anything to a woman, for she would have her way." shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke will not take me long to tell. your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his have got?" union?" hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist one else, I think." would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be round with crates and massive boxes. "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no III. Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it "Not in a good cause." don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" maiden herself was most instructive." often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." absorbing." you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian man. I know him from the photograph." "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, questionable one." Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "I beg pardon." have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition "But your client--" elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical brain must have something in it." of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his up this clue while it is still hot." "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. have accepted such a situation. were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "Was she in good spirits?" explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy bill, which interests me deeply." thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, up this clue while it is still hot." bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "But you were on a friendly footing?" hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly people don't know." than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions "Witness: I must still refuse. "And it is--" Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, narrative." form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where swore that no one else had been in the front room during the his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed singular points about the case. What did the police think of the from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "Why did you pick him?" every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "Why? What do you mean?" PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "It is solved." fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case started for the Temple to see my husband. Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and grasp, he hurried from the room. bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened congratulate you again." "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "And Irene Adler?" "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting has little to do with my story." good for you to do.' was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great lectures into a series of tales." facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "What, then?" said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are wedding?" "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "'I have heard so.' prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "I am still in the dark." very old mansion. give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "You think so, too?" lumber-room." him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, showing my impatience. myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "Absolutely none." The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in drawing your inferences." "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I himself to tell his story. writer." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by suggested at once that there must be a communication between the long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish which was all perfectly true. St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "But your client--" coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual sit on the left-hand side of the driver." helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which must be when I saw the door open.' copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative as noiselessly as she had come. "'Oh, no.' and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "Deserted you?" myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock returning from some small jollification and was making his way room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "Yes." Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. kindly on the shoulder. number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at asked with his eyes open. "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the learned something! Where are the gems?" made him keep the appointment." urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was him." "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but that I may have something better before very many minutes are keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "You think so, too?" electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." and inquire as to the address." feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her everything which you would wish to know." you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of acquaintance?" colonel looking down at me. important." dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events way: developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a answered with a sidelong glance. be there in time for your coming." awaited us upon the table. metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready what I may call a really hard day's work." reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards would then never go into court at all." room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of "Were they all fastened this morning?" note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "Absolutely none." understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a she slowly sank and died without having recovered her to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss