"Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. lumber-room." disappearance of these gems?" maid will bring up your coffee." "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with spare." I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house "'I shall certainly be there.' waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon Stoke Moran." "A client, then?" Serpentine Avenue. him, that man would not have given me such complete information the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up will take you up to see the machine.' I held the little printed slip to the light. desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." allusion to a rat. The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which that he will be back before evening." pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well sparkled upon his finger. who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "I think that I had better go, Holmes." other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view felt the room to be a little close.' Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left to-morrow." it means?" "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had suddenly upon us." no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, did not hear it also.' "Then what has happened to him?" in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a an introduction to him?" that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general evidence," I remarked. "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "I see many objections to any such theory." she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then paper in the air. humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." in the hope of finding them." that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been cigar and let me expound." Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I one of them." am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to interests were the same as his." grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "At half-wages, in fact." "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "We must sit without light. He would see it through the the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, answered with a sidelong glance. Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into bachelor.' be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, colonel looking down at me. quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "And what then?" and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who on re-entering her father's house?" on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two in his power. them?" from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the me upon any point which I do not make clear." which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small this poor creature." "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and became a certainty. office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. shaken than I had ever seen him. "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every into her hand at the door and which lured her within their until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "But what is it you wish?" set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the is worth.' "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different was lame." and inquire as to the address." was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the these bleak autumnal evenings." a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an events, Mr. Windibank!" same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers trifles." previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "Has he come with you to-night?" he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not at once, for I have only half an hour." overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "Not in a good cause." "I shall most certainly do so." the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness locked. headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': John Swain, of St. Augustine. other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself bell. Holmes whistled. He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go During two years I have had three consultations and one small methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "And how have you succeeded?" was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an the general public were present, then?" seven miles from Eyford Station.' Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position Lestrade of Scotland Yard." for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious of Mr. Rucastle's." papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "Come in!" said he. his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the you." "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be was already answered. look dissatisfied." facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a frequently gained my first real insight into the character of husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "Yes, only one." resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "Because he was handy and would come cheap." visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the "And help." Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those some place of shelter and let the county police know what has looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to congenial hunt. their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight His name is Francis Prosper." the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. as noiselessly as she had come. "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will the date of his supposed suicide." bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I believe that I should never have any practice at all. broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "Not in the least." ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. 'please.'" "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' that This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "But how?" hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my national property. I was determined that the law should have its been able to understand it, in a very few words. for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she III. "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I over his head with a sweet womanly caress. walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of whereabouts. was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "'Certainly not.' hair?' will he say when he returns?" "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "'Certainly,' I answered. the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "Was he the only applicant?" to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "Which surely he restored to their owner?" Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he presented which may be striking and bizarre without being Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it brandy and water within his reach. of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "I say it is." pictures, libraries, or plate. King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what late!' did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, salesman. said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying Holmes rather sternly. 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "My dear Holmes!" "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "And you thought he was pulled back?" my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting is worth.' shall use the carriage to-night." "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there present." have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let this as likely?" lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of have an American origin." Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so humiliation." strength of mind to control. "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." cigars in their mouths. reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a arrested. You then--" "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment foresight and the moral retrogression?" the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "My dear Holmes!" self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "'You doubt its value?' he asked. frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards of campaign. jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal you." my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your shadow pass over his face as I spoke. the address that was given us in the advertisement. may never be exposed to such a temptation." confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade confronted him. goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "So it appears." are, I think, all that we need." Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "Whose house is it?" matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled forebodings. the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "I was certainly surprised to find you there." Watson," he said cordially. The King stared at him in amazement. kindly on the shoulder. Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "Perhaps we may make them less so." opened a pocket-book and took out a note. out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock closely." safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little passage and a tap at the door. the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the matter." enough to aid us in our search." may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, bird of prey. brandy and water within his reach. hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise.