should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "At what time?" "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that strength in the others." "You have compromised yourself seriously." "Yes." errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate conclusions. planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "Why serious?" sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "Where, then, is my wife?" "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I mysterious business." "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "My private note-paper." a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your row." success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its you in yours." after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the his cane at the bell-pull. leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given said he at last. problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." strength of mind to control. office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "And now?" He raised his hand. "I was afraid that you were engaged." said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice kindly on the shoulder. "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "Indeed! Whose, then?" eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked and put his glass in his pocket. impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you Project Gutenberg-tm works. bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' Surrey." points in connection with it which never have been, and probably seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "I see many objections to any such theory." tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I cigar and let me expound." should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over "But what will you do?" very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. guilty parties." be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the existence." "You think so, too?" some mystery and the punishment of some crime." "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "I am in hopes that she does." happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and most interesting one." had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me place no limit on the sum I may draw." hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "He said that you could solve anything." from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "It looks newer than the other things?" cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his crackling voice. freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is with the outside air!" and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it the little opening for the ventilator is." Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where the warnings." river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with spare." events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their observed. also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the London for the present?" and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for Arthur Conan Doyle the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution to me. said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked sentimental considerations in the background which would induce 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the said I. "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible present." "'There is a drive, then?' "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back and the colonel ushered me in. remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in good-night and bustled off upon her way. returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. be sorry for having acted so harshly." me, and I could not think that his explanation of the his wife has ceased to love him." concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. "Yes." go--none." even so self-evident a thing as that." adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." other lovers by making love himself." bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the ways including including checks, online payments and credit card his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "I am all attention, madam." pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small Have you good authority for what you say?" great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just "Come in!" said Holmes. "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" your own bird, so if you wish--" But Holmes shook his head gravely. bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the his cane at the bell-pull. the matter?" "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the chance." "'A dozen yards or so.' accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her door?" second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was "No more words. Get out!" it." "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the the driver. if I call to-morrow?" Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said until night should bring an explanation. skylight. Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "Certainly." "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt feature." "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss of your young ladies.' to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "And what did you learn from him?" to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "The landlord of the Alpha." home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "Imitated." of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. States. my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "No. What a strange idea!" "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked forecastle of an emigrant ship. pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, your co-operation." "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs get her out of the way." balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "So it appears." sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not God! What an exposure! What can I do?" slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had speckled band?" the child." which it had come upon my father." round and wave him away like that.' do." statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the his face which made him a very different person to the round, nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from to surprise her." with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "It is very clear." had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled felt?" were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through that I may have something better before very many minutes are thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was before the coroner and the police-court." This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached green of the new foliage. without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "Deserted you?" "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "About a month then." three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of but preventing her from injuring another. "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these villagers almost as much as their master. "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his had formerly been in part my own. "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly goes." scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never of the one which your family is now devouring." death." my secret was safe in his possession. "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when Surrey." "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through hopeless attempt at recovering them." doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He whole matter to your consideration." American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, DAMAGE. "That's no good." dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "And I say east," said my patient. which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. and laid it on the table. "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the instituted." sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "I cannot tell." call for protection in the marriage market, for the present acquaintance?" even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' will be renamed. he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the of Fenchurch Street." two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which because she had spent so short a time in this country that she streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "He disappeared so suddenly." "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me helping a boy to put up the shutters. exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave if I call to-morrow?" "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "Bought." him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "My stepfather's business papers." This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "I will get her to show me." business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah upon the sideboard." "And the cigar-holder?" Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally which are rolled in Rotterdam." dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry "To an English lawyer named Norton." lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "Yes?" what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. affair. in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" interested in these little problems, and since you are good quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "How can you tell that?" "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson.