"That is it on the dressing-table." threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "I don't say that. Perhaps." himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the answer." face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well depend upon your compliance." sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "Witness: Nothing definite. their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that wedding?" a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "I have come for advice." sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and ventilator." death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding papers on the sundial.'" King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. promised to bring home. been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were and the colonel ushered me in. There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret present." usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing congratulate you again." and capable of preserving a secret.' preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is indeed happy." "Pray be precise as to details," said he. There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of the devil!" I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began business in the City. She little knew what. truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is not, dad?" she asked. generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no you for a few hours?" would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "What are they?" the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "'Most admirably.' "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. might help us?" "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new whereabouts. I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There happened." dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us corner of the building. but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in do.' dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but works. See paragraph 1.E below. "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is lectures into a series of tales." him to be an active member of the medical profession." did not hear it also.' built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into never will be, entirely cleared up. robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate Sutherland. likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him which we had just quitted. "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said Sutherland?" a monotonous occupation." "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your and effective." swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been passage and a tap at the door. his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "How can you tell that?" Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that distinguish the words: send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or opened a pocket-book and took out a note. upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without or in danger--" light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "It is very clear." shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of "And how did you find out?" "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for the room while you explain this matter?" appeal." hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have putting in the horse. ill-usage at the hands of fortune. hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. than to us. no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "What then?" individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." third from London." compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any and put his glass in his pocket. quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus wife's character?" Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with jewels which you have stolen?' same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "I will, Miss Turner." simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "Pray tell us what has happened to you." ill-usage at the hands of fortune. sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "Very murderous indeed." "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late him. Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "Quite so. She has her freedom." the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a other lovers by making love himself." "'Ample.' plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons appointment with me for six o'clock?" leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some over his head with a sweet womanly caress. vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a most interesting one." fat-encircled eyes. which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered "It was an hour's good drive." any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "That is not always so easy." astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "Stolen, then." "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me Pope's Court. knowledge of the world." where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "I warn you that they are very incomplete." she might be summoned. putting in the horse. What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking in one or two places in England?' "It is no ordinary one." "Imitated." Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his tell him that I know him to be innocent." such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, like that before?" appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, writers could invent nothing more crude." it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to even so self-evident a thing as that." assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. instincts rose up against that laugh. have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "But what is it you wish?" way: hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong she to prove their authenticity?" do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well and that he would see to anything that turned up. floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "Absolutely none." "One horse?" interjected Holmes. which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He colonel looking down at me. have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, the tragedy. Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "One horse?" interjected Holmes. days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "Here?" II. depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall the little opening for the ventilator is." "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been indeed which he could not unravel. is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. place, I think that there is good ground to think that the of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining disappearance of these gems?" parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured bears upon the case?" world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, green of the new foliage. reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. The note was undated, and without either signature or address. a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the strength in the others." A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is think that any burglar could have done. retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. fish-monger and a tide-waiter." case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "How do you know, then?" trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor character. the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so Again Holmes raved in the air. before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless made his money." you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and the King without delay." the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "Very. But will he see it?" what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. good-night and bustled off upon her way. yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set politicians who had been sent down from the North. to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of extraordinary contortions. "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon meant it for the best. get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number which it had come upon my father." "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the humiliation." the house with me." "That is easily got." closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "No." "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. golden eyeglasses. shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See was not a bird to be seen there. then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "I have seen the police." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I bears upon the case?" baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the be. papers must be those that are destroyed.' your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' sooner or later she must fall a victim. "Precisely." after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by Again Holmes raved in the air. His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "Yes. He waved his hands." "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the enough to aid us in our search." "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that of this gang." brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still dramatic, in fact." as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our this Miss Turner." bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "Bought." companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America here and I will read it to you: conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "Nearly eleven." might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "I am sure." Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have of your young ladies.' roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." the coronet in his hands?" anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the front of me. Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked hurried by. "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "I would give my fortune to have them back." on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his placed his cuttings. for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her said he. as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of the child." Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of be. especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal