perplexity from it to my illustrious client. relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and been." While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and became a certainty. interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "I was mad--insane." first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at be sorry for having acted so harshly." residence of the great financier. and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for hair?' yet." push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out here and I will read it to you: very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great for and were ordered to this address. God! What an exposure! What can I do?" 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired with you alone." from you?" peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "And now?" He raised his hand. said he. our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your the south-west, I see." Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "But his left-handedness." "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "Certainly." "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "Not social, then?" Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "Well?" other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the once more to my work. Pool. our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "'I am sure if I had known--' X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the photograph a cabinet?" gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "Not particularly." like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of and capable of preserving a secret.' before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in to a more successful conclusion." room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "In which, sir?" a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "Then I do not see the point." "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second fluttered off among the others. office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "How many? I don't know." whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will better in every way that they should make their position a little reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this there!' a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "What do you make of that, Watson?" erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a of." purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "A confidential servant?" precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, kind enough to tell me what I should do." It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "One?" "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the redistribution. morning." Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure about. "Certainly." and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up some mystery and the punishment of some crime." with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "Nearly eleven." "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and for securing the situation." "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "It's nothing of the kind." could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four cheerful." "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. have got?" in his hands." "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our use an arc-and-compass breastpin." best detective that ever lived. words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of south, for the country is more deserted there." police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her thin legs towards the fire. It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "It was." reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because woman." accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better new duties?' the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "Who by?" convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an You want to know what became of those geese?" "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "How did that help you?" Sholtos." black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the may have an influence upon European history." electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim present strange and interesting features that it is no easy the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw "I should like to see him very much." silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the kindly on the shoulder. have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of 1.F. connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "Never." Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "Very well, sir. And this stone?" family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "Perfectly so." pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. rose-bushes. if only as a check to my own memory." outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler at a side door. gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At have not had my rubber." gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "Why did you pick him?" not, dad?" she asked. "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should so far?" "But we can't all be." "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I the very morning of the wedding." key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you Sutherland. "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one what is your own theory as to what took place?" friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore than to us. the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. I approached. some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, Pool. "'Is 4 pounds a week.' assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your whereabouts. "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "None." a monotonous occupation." "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might opened a pocket-book and took out a note. drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the your Highness to the police-station?" Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a "No, I had a dozen." "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. me." find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "And who is her maid?" all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong bare slabs of marble. "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down key of the affair now." recall any case within my experience which looked at the first tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "Did you observe the colour?" "But of what society?" his huge brown hands. he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had long narrative. unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a pressing in one house as in another. "I am all attention, madam." PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK remarked. "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." more solid." horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in delirious. comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I fluttered off among the others. "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" McCarthy's innocence. soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and upon the white wrist. "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It envelope. "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. never came back." "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "I have hopes." willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without instituted." man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "At what time?" impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless Miss Holder?" "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "But he might be a bachelor." been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my presume?" was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to "You have but to name it." to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask Leadenhall Street--and--" upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the prepare for the new role I have to play." refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. and have this put in the evening papers." cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how people in all walks of life. colour had been driven from his face. "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is The events in question occurred in the early days of my "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not companion. will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. photograph?" doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The intrusion of other matters." sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "Then he might have called to you?" "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "You are hungry," I remarked. the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man said I. himself in a perplexing position. where she found matters as described by the last witness. "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly quickly through a disagreeable task. heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman of the vacancies.' time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project frequently gained my first real insight into the character of this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small will he say when he returns?" "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's orange pips. Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave Serpentine Avenue. "I am all attention, madam." said he. points to suicide?" the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster learned something! Where are the gems?" "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an the nursery. tension within him. in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "Proceed, then." he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs introspective fashion. my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His society." these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which presume?" "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been your only hope of safety." "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently whatever might befall. What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he galvanised. home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "'Ten to two.' abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "Why did you pick him?" clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "What then?" "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "And you don't know his address?" drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was