"At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. and have this put in the evening papers." "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" "Never to return." "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this over with notes and figures. furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? it? Did I buy the geese off you?" and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "But the mystery?" consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens conclusions. old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work fluttered off among the others. that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke that I am arrested." of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "Yes." have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as correct than the official force." signal between you and your father? I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may the very morning of the wedding." Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my society." nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "On the contrary, this is the right side." The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little some water from a caraffe. every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "How did you deduce the select?" "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "Do you go out much in society?" myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "Why serious?" VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's noting anything else of interest. Heh?' this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "Nothing?" "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "I cannot tell." "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it is worth.' registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so never came back." people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful "I should be immensely obliged to you." also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute that, and I came down." "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular yourselves in at night?" "What shall I do?" "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "It came here." "Where, indeed?" third from London." "Could he throw no light?" thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time I leave." cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her deduce something from that?" He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any just ask you whether you had heard it.' to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another "How on earth--" smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you chair. that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "It came here." surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "Then I shall certainly come." to a more successful conclusion." "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied secret." "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "Was he the only applicant?" Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in my little problems." concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that dates and names. short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural helping a boy to put up the shutters. Street. cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "What I expected to see." home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "When did she vanish, then?" Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took and have this put in the evening papers." week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. lamp in his hand. all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss prison!" neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove him to be an active member of the medical profession." attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "My opinion is in no way altered." against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' matters immensely." "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a shoulder. "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off into the bag, and made for the door. is four-and-twenty." Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small points in connection with it which never have been, and probably you for a few hours?" force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, have an American origin." name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "And the cigar-holder?" enter Dr. Roylott's room." nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa or in danger--" I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." window when the police appeared." hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it Cross for the Continent." saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "Have you her photograph?" straighten it?" to have that photograph." gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of country, and eventually married, without anyone having a in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of she has been waylaid. There has been no result." who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "Were they all fastened this morning?" very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "'As governess?' green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found one else, I think." "'What, the red-headed man?' we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "Seven!" I answered. well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' the Assizes." plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. photograph?" dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "Won't it ring?" years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after your sleep?' slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "'How far from the body?' seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "And your mother is alive?" quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts "Only as much as we can deduce." half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," used to be." reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "Why serious?" Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case there." Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause me. You must get home instantly and act." Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very chance." is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "Where did you address your letters, then?" lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "Pray do so." dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. me." home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father "It is very clear." prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, perplexity from it to my illustrious client. reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I it. I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which case before our client came into the room." what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and "Her father is very rich?" together. revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" question you as to those details which seem to me to be most is worth.' the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw business matters.' your most interesting statement." like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for 'please.'" little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "Yes, at the mines." "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, then?" that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As three of the beryls in it, was missing. problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You to have been novel and of interest." her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "Imitated." "But you would not advise me to refuse?" was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary interest. They are important, you understand, without being where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety garden below. news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." enter Dr. Roylott's room." considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "What! Had he lost his wife?" "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us case-book, which he consulted. mystery." opportunities to fix the problem. him." "'Certainly not.' at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have had no one to advise her at such a crisis." whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "Well, but China?" gone. have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. the devil!" at a side door. business came to an end." evidence," I remarked. upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "How many? I don't know." definite end. furiously. status with the IRS. "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which death." penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they The events in question occurred in the early days of my fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. keep the flames under. not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "It is possible." laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and to a more successful conclusion." "Dark enough and sinister enough." going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "He said too much." staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be the warnings."