practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many there were so many in the whole country as were brought together of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I rooms." down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to you do it in twenty minutes!' evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand his face. reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "But what will you do?" We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible one else, I think." My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands than was visible to me." him to go away.' soul! here is her carriage at the door." "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "Where, indeed?" My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover to me. glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp appeared upon the scene." village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "Breckinridge is his name." and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very Again Holmes raved in the air. however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' the inner apartment." "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. least a most suspicious remark." which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had laugh and put his lips to my ear. certainly not very gracious." from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little *** START: FULL LICENSE *** or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A business." "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." but preventing her from injuring another. "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an had died away into the silence from which it rose. "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been your sleep?' my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting details." you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he London for the present?" "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was where Mr. Fordham shows you.' to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' way in." Have you good authority for what you say?" mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless house for five minutes.' could go. was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, "She will not sell." "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those voice, changing her seat as requested. remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was upon the shelf for the interim." across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger trifles." hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of you?" "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's three of the beryls in it, was missing. have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "An accident, I presume?" taking in every detail of the apartment. Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell matter." The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project followed. in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would very old mansion. room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." Does that suggest anything?" alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "Did he not advertise?" to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works emerged. to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I danger is over." connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, hard-headed British jury." "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow knowledge of the world." "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. at my remark. wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "But we can't all be." than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and only touch the interest." brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, and the church but not where the lady lived." zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "Won't it ring?" "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "I should like to see him very much." "Where, indeed?" "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I there when the Rucastles went away." latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but if only as a check to my own memory." them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "Your sister is dead, then?" of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached morning." "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "Thank you. Pray proceed." note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally following enigmatical notices: Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor deduce something from that?" We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case geese which you supplied to the Alpha." can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "Texas, I think." list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "You are hungry," I remarked. "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six a few minutes he said that it would be all right. front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away "No, I am descending." parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case prisoner's face. half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the have one." Lee, in the county of Kent." "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible "ARAT," I read. impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" too. "Thank you. Pray proceed." sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to "My last client of the sort was a king." For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down look upon these things in a different way." felt the room to be a little close.' gives a meaning to it." Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes depend upon my doing so.' perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the stepfather?" went to the Alpha were town bred." "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where Literary Archive Foundation perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the me. burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' to tackle the facts." I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a habit of advancing money.' send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a thirty. "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "He said too much." "My private note-paper." introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the colour had been driven from his face. upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "'Ten to two.' array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is his cane at the bell-pull. rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had in this way: 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, chair. outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the "Who was the criminal, then?" success. "In answer to an advertisement." family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, you want, then?' immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in him nearly every evening." fish-monger and a tide-waiter." errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the public press." We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line answered with a sidelong glance. Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The to affect your life." made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "Then you may be so with me." of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very front of the hall door has given its name to the place. instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt "It is solved." through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "No." "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him despair." "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress get her out of the way." 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, I was concerned in it." "Yes, that is the Crown." "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "How many? I don't know." "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The read over the extraordinary announcement. tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." Stoke Moran." and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" beg that you will break it off." may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for sparkled upon his finger. in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do "I know where it is." wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be his knees, staring into the fire. instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to me." like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "Nothing." "'I have already given you my word.' entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "Were they all fastened this morning?" fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same there was no need for father to know." know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "Yes." our word." me. You must get home instantly and act." present." "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "I cannot imagine." not fit the lock." "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and and the whole place is in a blaze." "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to place no limit on the sum I may draw." "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in other, as fresh and trim as possible. "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "So it appears." charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of them, and came down just as you departed. prisoner's face. "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "I warn you that they are very incomplete." greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We believe that I should never have any practice at all. finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he happened." Does that suggest anything?" it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great tassel actually lying upon the pillow. undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the I nodded again. 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "Seven!" I answered. with you alone." for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has congratulate you again."