avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his "'What then?' I asked. dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "At half-wages, in fact." upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "'Ample.' can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If down from London to inquire more deeply into it." words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "I will try. What is it?" purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry "The Coroner: What do you mean? outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "It surprised me." "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "'About the same.' fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "Your French gold?" everything which you would wish to know." day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed the coronet at all injured?" "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "You forget that I know nothing about it." "Certainly." "It goes to the housekeeper's room." iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler to arrive at through this?" end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of hereditary King of Bohemia." there were so many in the whole country as were brought together any more." and that he would see to anything that turned up. much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In them?" "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it the inquest, and which are worth considering." noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "What is it?" He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "How long did she speak to this Alice?" on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "Pray tell us what has happened to you." I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "Yes." of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the "My dear Holmes!" voice, changing her seat as requested. wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as of the one which your family is now devouring." papers on the sundial.'" was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the his fortune, and I went back to pa. mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "Dr. Becher's." I think that I could be of assistance to you." woman." array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety *** START: FULL LICENSE *** Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "What, then?" a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was charged with?" aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a was already answered. put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass future lives." From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at into the room. the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "Well, some hundreds of times." I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "I cannot imagine." away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in bedroom door." Gutenberg-tm License. "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist "Was your sister dressed?" help us in this matter." round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the help us in this matter." "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "He slept on the premises." enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss me." of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what to-night's adventure." room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, ways of our fellow-men." given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he door?" "By train from Waterloo." either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "I know where it is." he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New maid will bring up your coffee." "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic for securing the situation." help us in this matter." "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have I have it here in my museum." electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past hard-headed British jury." exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the from the brougham. Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "Entirely." It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or very old mansion. quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "Won't it ring?" awaited us upon the table. on in his house." green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from strength." that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring guilty parties." "Yes." "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is "At what time?" danger is over." the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the the inquest, and which are worth considering." considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. not, dad?" she asked. little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "This concluded the examination of the witness." has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. had this final quarrel? have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" maid will bring up your coffee." Lestrade of Scotland Yard." which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "It missed him, then?" or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "Well, it is a possible supposition." set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may eat it." "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his silent! Oh, he will be silent!' room. corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from me have 200 pounds?' "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling away into the river." stepfather?" moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "Yes, sir." one which it was hard to resist. into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a maid will bring up your coffee." room had already been engaged for us. of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in remarked. "Where, then, is my wife?" I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, the nursery. few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "Do you go out much in society?" Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be Eyford at 11:15.' Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without murdered man." uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "What are they?" inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the look dissatisfied." "'What would be the hours?' I asked. suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in question. "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "'Stolen!' he cried. the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying never to learn it at all." neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who so.' joking. in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "Whose house is it?" because she had spent so short a time in this country that she of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. From what you have told me I think that it is possible that near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. "He might." "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "Here?" Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the fluttered off among the others. glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "What do you make of that, Watson?" India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the individual and becomes the badge of a society." have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss over part of the map. "What do you read?" flock.' "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post possible that we could bring him back to her? assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "My dear Holmes!" skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look there was no need for father to know." his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a electronic works am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of letters?" "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of best detective that ever lived. man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "I am to be neutral?" up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "How about poison?" should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking three fields round his house, and there he would take his Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself most important business. It is probable that he will be away all three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to the Red-headed League." Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was and that he would see to anything that turned up. been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" other lovers by making love himself." when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "Then, as to money?" "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally investigation." records." Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "That sounds a little paradoxical." "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence The note was undated, and without either signature or address. possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the these bleak autumnal evenings." "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "He said too much." "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we goes." considering the formidable letters which were received by himself reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All children over to America with him, so that I found myself without while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. young Openshaw's." were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the the little opening for the ventilator is." be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in heavily into it. about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "No good news?" out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she