dear old homesteads?" the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "But how?" the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, read it out to me." say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an said he. her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and said he at last. a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "Where to?" that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of never came back." yourselves in at night?" your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled and the church but not where the lady lived." Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this if she died from some sudden fright." "Entirely." photograph?" "The landlord of the Alpha." lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "'Never,' said I. if only as a check to my own memory." were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the are, I think, all that we need." list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "Yes, it was twisted." electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "If I can be of use." the matter." think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "Proceed, then." the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at less than 26s. 4d. "To an English lawyer named Norton." stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "You have compromised yourself seriously." followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one likely to be some crony of the landlady's." a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to all-comprehensive glances. "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the paper in the air. villagers almost as much as their master. remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the drawing your inferences." from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith "He disappeared so suddenly." up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give My friend smiled. met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." in. you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his bird of prey. well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "What! a murderous attack?" Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "I promise," said Holmes. neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. "Well?" my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not bird I ate is country bred." conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the way: company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late you do it in twenty minutes!' cigar and let me expound." XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign habit of advancing money.' mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a subject to the trademark license, especially commercial train from Paddington which would bring you there at about his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. him to go away.' occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really client, rising. "Yes." from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest had picked up in the wood. "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination his knees, staring into the fire. "Pray continue your narrative." certainly do as you advise." "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "And now?" He raised his hand. "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon your own bird, so if you wish--" tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry row." "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, ventilator." gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how than to us. photograph a cabinet?" Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the with you alone." empty. "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "And you don't know his address?" that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "I assure you that I am in your hands." on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. be.' concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing mysterious end." I have it here in my museum." untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I to his chemical studies. spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "I warn you that they are very incomplete." I nodded again. Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a crime." standing smiling on the door-step. him nearly every evening." we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." indiscretion." horse could go." to talk it over. chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel was lame." But Holmes shook his head gravely. "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is that you saw all that I did." to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "Stolen, then." street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else certainly not very gracious." unkempt, staring out at me. McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have will he say when he returns?" "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End it." "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that business in the City. She little knew what. mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. bill, which interests me deeply." "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining stammered. spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely Countess of Morcar's?" and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "Was there a secret marriage?" see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "Nothing." "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, at my own good fortune. "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "And I say east," said my patient. anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" I have it here in my museum." that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in of Mr. Rucastle's." "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its criminal. We have already had experience of such." both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." discontent upon his features. woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "Texas, I think." advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something night.' said he. Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party never came back." back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "And Irene Adler?" "My Mary? Impossible!" be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "Dirty?" I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but unclasping of his long thin hands. exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about to surprise her." reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat national property. I was determined that the law should have its many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "Yes." front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "And is that all?" "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence DAMAGE. and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, London for the present?" confronted him. would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for Arthur Conan Doyle "And how?" photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "What do you make of that, Watson?" bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "Who was the criminal, then?" figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey "Ample." during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "Pray tell us what has happened to you." unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being whatever might befall. her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had away into the river." experiences." refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "Get out!" said he. news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now delighted to hear it," he said. we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should but preventing her from injuring another. down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do trifles." "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "Her father is very rich?" always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not triumphant cloud from his cigarette. possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the into the bag, and made for the door. let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and the bottom.' ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has within hail.' "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "What!" he roared. all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "You don't mind breaking the law?" sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly spare." difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall http://www.gutenberg.net "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "'Ample.' violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a both be extremely obliged.' husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but Watson," he said cordially. "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "Not him." in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "The vanishing of the lady." "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he people in all walks of life. Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." James Windibank. Voilà tout!" International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place which we had just quitted. make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in so.' particular state visit http://pglaf.org breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project experiences." common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "But we can't all be." "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, has little to do with my story." place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "Yes, it was twisted." particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of hopeless attempt at recovering them." if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "No legal papers or certificates?" lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low night.' said he. is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little good for you to do.' "That's no good." "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that Mrs. Toller serenely. first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "Murdered?" contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my least a most suspicious remark." There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The you, my dear young lady?' "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out the so-precious time, but come!' which our visitor detailed to us. took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had the ceiling. upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination front of me. not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. new duties?' even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so "What are they?" The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella individual and becomes the badge of a society." advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms