upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, drawing your inferences." doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the province." thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "Where is it, then?" Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed fishes. in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "I cannot think." very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, detained." fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend delirious. "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is present." It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at strength." name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "No. What a strange idea!" I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. that the gas is not laid on in his house?" were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which For additional contact information: in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up fasten all the windows?" benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have meant it for the best. I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "Well, some hundreds of times." the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "What are they?" struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me and the colonel ushered me in. case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and putting in the horse. "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing could not have written that. It is the German who is so in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to miles off. "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "And how?" it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy not fit the lock." compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a vault. electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days main points of my analysis." chambers. "My dear Holmes!" collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of case-book, which he consulted. "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by conclusions. make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and ready to-morrow?' in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief to have been novel and of interest." But Holmes shook his head gravely. superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "Yes, at the mines." "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared could not account in any way for the presence of the missing have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who and prosperity to your house. Good-night." he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the himself. "How many? I don't know." of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "Certainly." impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "You will not go there first?" have not had my rubber." saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' father's young wife. sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to she has been waylaid. There has been no result." obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the questionable one." smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. make me his representative both with the servants and with the "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat stalked out of the room. homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in them, and came down just as you departed. "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" our word." when you have done it." Street. "By all means." "So I am. Very much so." "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "In San Francisco, a year ago." be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it perplexity from it to my illustrious client. a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. "Were they all fastened this morning?" It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty straightened it out again. only touch the interest." wedding?" "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we Again Holmes raved in the air. The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he trifles." next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "Yes, all." had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is have established a very serious case against the son of the impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "But what will you do?" "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. galvanised. one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill how narrow had been my escape. conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings IS whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. empty. "My own seal." "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well became a certainty. which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper minor matters until to-morrow." words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who Mrs. Toller serenely. not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "Yes, from Horsham." this as likely?" cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "He is still with you, I presume?" considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is trifles." need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no and the colonel ushered me in. drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was wife's character?" was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "Pray tell us what has happened to you." held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "You have a clue?" a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same it." of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "You think that he is dead?" "And you can do nothing until then?" "Then I shall certainly come." the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you generous with you in money matters.' there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against and have this put in the evening papers." started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the the driver. "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before During two years I have had three consultations and one small 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which threw himself down with his face to the pillow. settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "No bad?" But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and which we had just quitted. "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than of them has the shutters up.' followed. ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of get her out of the way." a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. salesman. wedding?" "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, deduce something from that?" "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "Two days later this same performance was gone through under have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to American. Then who could this American be, and why should he conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable where she found matters as described by the last witness. dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned said he. Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, that, and I came down." landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural lost nothing by them." "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by electronic works seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, for its centre. then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his nonsense.' have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while investigation." opportunities to fix the problem. in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "And how in the world did you find them?" unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "I guessed as much." probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his Street. my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab desk. McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with answer." has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." or in danger--" mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just "But it has twice been burgled." cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in up this clue while it is still hot." been shamefully used." logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. bill, which interests me deeply." since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." some mystery and the punishment of some crime." to a more successful conclusion." he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or hereditary King of Bohemia." fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "Ample." man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' said he at last. "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." you?' "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, the warnings." have accepted such a situation. garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than records." predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, into the bag, and made for the door. Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he one or two very singular points about this room. For example, Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "You don't mind breaking the law?" "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards bill, which interests me deeply." walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his as he remarks, very much against the son." subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "Pray do so." last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by the Red-headed League." "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared Heh?' was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "But what will you do?" have accepted such a situation. was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked hour?' seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great happened." "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "What, then?" his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my the child." pierced for earrings?" purpose equally well?" which I could not give. He asked for Alice. upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to "Yes, they were peculiar boots." inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' "I beg pardon." "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "You have a clue?" noting anything else of interest. with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." had picked up in the wood. in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry writing, and yet I know it well." who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "'What do you call purely nominal?' you?' from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of October 9, 1890. compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "Certainly." Holmes' thin, eager face. absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she "Why? What do you mean?" from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "Stoke Moran?" said he. upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left manager. law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And