"Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a which was all perfectly true. "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a simple cases which are so extremely difficult." bell. Holmes whistled. "How do you know, then?" "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "Bought." the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "What steps will you take?" I asked. in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that your troubles." "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel better in every way that they should make their position a little road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "How did he come?" "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "Oh, the cause is excellent!" Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he father's place of business?" which should have the effect of calling the attention of the I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? will he say when he returns?" which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and wanted for ourselves." away to you." finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic promised to bring home. "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "Why did you pick him?" "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "The Coroner: What do you mean? "I fear not." "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a goes." "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "But of what society?" very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' records." ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to very morning of my second wedding." "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. not within a twentieth part of the market price." 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that your most interesting statement." subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "No?" time." "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying ran thus: fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the the Red-headed League." little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "I have my revolver," said I. like that before?" License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been without success. At last the little money which I had saved began village inn over there?" ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." his fortune, and I went back to pa. exactly what you advise." your most interesting statement." computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "Very well, sir. And this stone?" He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to on re-entering her father's house?" been anything against him. He had for years been known as a cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "The knees of his trousers." "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of danger is over." frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to locked." but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, breakfast." "But what harm can there be in that?" however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "No good news?" self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, points to suicide?" "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to affection." "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce such person." my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without perplexity from it to my illustrious client. of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and Lestrade of Scotland Yard." secret." fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There Watson," he said cordially. I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the me where it went to?" through." ventilator." in the dead of the night?' morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "We have tried and failed." was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "The decline of his fortunes, then?" impression behind it as though a window had gently closed heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." visitors." "That is unusual in a young girl." should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "Nothing." empty. accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. that there was nothing in it, after all." Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just burst into a hearty fit of laughter. time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed me upon any point which I do not make clear." wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my it." from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of dead, shall be safe with us." owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my opened a pocket-book and took out a note. fish-monger and a tide-waiter." woman." table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The from the brougham. civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "No good news?" you came in." of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a "Perhaps we may make them less so." Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the disappearance of these gems?" of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, in him." gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not nonsense.' equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "But we can't all be." "So I am. Very much so." the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but her also." in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his back to my heart. fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his one's self under obligations.' "By no means." which should have the effect of calling the attention of the that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "Very much so." "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes way in." heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my charge against him will break down." typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' them, and came down just as you departed. jewels which you have stolen?' sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to if I call to-morrow?" in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the and have this put in the evening papers." that there was nothing in it, after all." went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "Where, indeed?" flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a again, where I was soon asleep. dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, case-book, which he consulted. The summons was a brief and urgent one. in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom colonel looking down at me. "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the death." my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a less than 26s. 4d. other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished in his power. half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "Two days later this same performance was gone through under Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be bill, which interests me deeply." far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "The Cedars?" understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "Thank you. Pray proceed." wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "Then I do not see the point." "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "My own seal." DISSOLVED. "I was sure that I might rely on you." from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "I guessed as much." brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: unclasping of his long thin hands. who was a member of your goose club." you in yours." would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and and a shock of very red hair. crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows never to learn it at all." thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy very peculiar words of the dying woman?" However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it it." speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without The telegram which we eventually received came late one night that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "No, thank goodness, she did not." treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable Farm upon the left." loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be in a very precise fashion." pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to she slowly sank and died without having recovered her sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "Did he not advertise?" out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. "But I have heard all that you have heard." "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "That you are never beaten." inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His of his shoulders. the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned instincts rose up against that laugh. serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "I was mad--insane." very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "No, my brougham is waiting." "And leave your case unfinished?" Again Holmes raved in the air. woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he be. "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out not personally threatened." "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed depend upon my doing so.' the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the golden eyeglasses. my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you to arrive at through this?" Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were such attractions and accomplishments?' or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would been lifted and conveyed somewhere." had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a "Pray do so." sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew