her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become matter." favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in chair. "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you and all of them with the keenest interest. "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. shoulder; "he's all right." Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "No." a monotonous occupation." papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I not come at once?" was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, Cross for the Continent." "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our furiously. make me his representative both with the servants and with the dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now him to be an active member of the medical profession." been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading gentleman's clothes. "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as upon the sideboard." second window is the one that I jumped from." I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his appeared upon the scene." village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have with you?" The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat photograph?" towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. legal crime." said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house husband's writing, madam." speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you arrangements." and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. "What have you to say now?" "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but standing smiling on the door-step. protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," to his chemical studies. It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not putting in the horse. submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "He is dead," cried several voices. "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his I. "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "It's nothing of the kind." who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for flock.' down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country important." "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For or other trace. But how on earth--" "Nothing." excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "This photograph!" disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with conclusions. young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "Stoke Moran?" said he. knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project from you?" "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "'Never.' the Assizes." "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. absorbing." and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing neither fascinating nor artistic." "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the she used." bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "Pray be precise as to details," said he. crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable suddenly upon us." question you as to those details which seem to me to be most we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, point our research must commence, and we will begin it by Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped chamber." coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about could gather together that I was able to avert another public fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered that you can jump it.' as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young name is different." which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, some mystery and the punishment of some crime." immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, confronted him. framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the the dangers which encompass me." a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, disappearance of the bride.'" acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" in the hope of finding them." society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do Where does the thing come from?' central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an come either from the window or the door. My attention was "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, I. could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." the King without delay." explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "Pray do so." "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the His smile broadened. it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than own family. "No." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more felt?" chambers. the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "What do you make of that, Watson?" "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit someone who had been in Australia." situation." are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to opportunities to fix the problem. all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was in the port of London." to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the public press." "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One never will be, entirely cleared up. fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the with the outside air!" the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my conceal it?" Farm upon the left." sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with to affect your life." to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work cigar and let me expound." little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went waste of energy." VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE as the one I chose?' square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all asked. "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. guilty parties." business came to an end." the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" already been minutely examined." creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his down. right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "'Certainly not. But why?' flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "It was." passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves I nodded again. "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed it with his own hands." is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "Where, then?" "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and guilty one." man. "I fear not." "How often?" "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to hurried by. "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up of Mr. Rucastle's." "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit gigantic client. his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." "What is it?" coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily IS "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "Where did you address your letters, then?" than to us. urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "Then you may entirely rely on me." "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich will be renamed. was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "No, I had a dozen." and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be better grown goose." our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "She walked into the breakfast-room." ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," always that they were such commands as a lady might with nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "Then, how do you know?" habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "How long did she speak to this Alice?" away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and see me here to avoid scandal." above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch to surprise her." Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was imbecility!" he cried. in your London, you will know that the office of the company is pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "I warn you that they are very incomplete." should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "It is a murder, then?" India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one you?' and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a I leave." politicians who had been sent down from the North. cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove the morning and make my own way in the world.' has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the desk. my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "There are none." really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "'Why that?' I asks. what I may call a really hard day's work." my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "And on what day did he meet his death?" habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you geese which you supplied to the Alpha." cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some John Swain, of St. Augustine. the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method hour?' "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the time." more terrible than the truth. throat." own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4