confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to all that?" "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "But what will you do?" bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange foresight and the moral retrogression?" "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular eat it." just ask you whether you had heard it.' The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "But how could you guess what the motive was?" thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us province." least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "It is true that I have been generally successful." she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who triumphant cloud from his cigarette. something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. fishes. bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening to take care of herself." "Oh, fresh and glossy." heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, started for the Temple to see my husband. "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of What do you deduce from it?" slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "A thing like a cleaver," said he. even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated ready to-morrow?' you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some only touch the interest." then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his politicians who had been sent down from the North. matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that take the flies, but not before." gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who begin with, and I had not got mine yet." have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may the little opening for the ventilator is." A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, then?" by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too of the efforts of the United States government and of the better Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The advice." it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "And why?" "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he Young McCarthy must be got off, however." pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "You have it, sir, just as it happened." platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use himself. like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle conclusions. strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle and have this put in the evening papers." it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing not fit the lock." protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending trying to your nerves." when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek them present such singular features as the strange train of "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "No." and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson appeared upon the scene." the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "'Ten to two.' "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." future lives." dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "About a month then." "And you can do nothing until then?" "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. mysterious business." liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "What is it?" she might be summoned. collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, infinite languor in his face. to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another use an arc-and-compass breastpin." were new raised from a basin. evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass the King without delay." "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "Not yet." morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine see a sister of mine apply for." been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to absolutely follow my advice in every respect." said he. ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second thought that she would have been so carried away." continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this charge against him will break down." which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "It missed him, then?" morning." "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just detained." lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried one's self under obligations.' take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he cigars in their mouths. money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "'Is 4 pounds a week.' upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be Arthur Conan Doyle "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an any." "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. "My photograph." habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what presented which may be striking and bizarre without being out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and brain must have something in it." impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "And why in hopes?" "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the mystery!" "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the less than 26s. 4d. calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross The summons was a brief and urgent one. appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "Why? What do you mean?" you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "A thing like a cleaver," said he. impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, "I am sure." plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a floor. I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "Was he the only applicant?" of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough are windows in it, of course?" "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a "Come in!" said Holmes. my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should ways of our fellow-men." seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his experiences." the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind congenial hunt. Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person to arrive at through this?" "My private note-paper." massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. open." knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There the coronet in his hand?" "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "Not yet." "Did your wife hear all this?" "That was it, sir." "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "Was he the only applicant?" "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in ceremony." strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I relief. studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." friend's singular character. some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. help us in this matter." "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. "Stolen." of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my hurried by. condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the my friend's incisive reasoning. happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not "Nothing?" bedroom door." a monotonous occupation." "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does on in his house." and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some was not a bird to be seen there. Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San strength." which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of them, and came down just as you departed. lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and do.' against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods there when the Rucastles went away." "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "Have you her photograph?" had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "And how did you verify them?" brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do three of the beryls in it, was missing. and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no and looked back. fashion which was peculiar to him. imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this little trying to do so much typewriting?" Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "'Yes, it was gone.' again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "Very. But will he see it?" "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. bird I ate is country bred." contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is one of them." little adventures." confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, arms and began to sob in a high treble key. old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "I cannot think." done what I asked you, Jones?" a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and begin with, and I had not got mine yet." refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he Serpentine Avenue. With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "Where to?" "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he returning from some small jollification and was making his way you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the people don't know." glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared could not account in any way for the presence of the missing from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, keep the flames under. heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "Where did you address your letters, then?" B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we to Leatherhead. depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "I will get her to show me." daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt have had none more fantastic than this." "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. furiously. now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than yet." "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on