And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? for and were ordered to this address. dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid which was all perfectly true. you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a me upon any point which I do not make clear." at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was such person." as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when manager. "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then eat it." been shamefully used." have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "Of Friday, June 19th." "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid green of the new foliage. "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. of the vacancies.' "'Where to?' "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a nice household for a young lady." whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look will not take me long to tell. "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in whole matter to your consideration." "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled retorted upon me, and I on you." there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he you in yours." means taking possession of that which another person has a prior fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily the coronet in his hand?" interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but Does that suggest anything?" "How did that help you?" "Where to?" are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the "Yes?" a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "May I see it?" neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction with you alone." fact, we may call it conclusive." "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and do.' of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of bachelor.' lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had indeed which he could not unravel. could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to my former friend and companion. "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we http://gutenberg.net/license). our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted Serpentine Avenue. disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the presume?" "Nor running a chance of arrest?" you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "I should wish to." Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "Then what has happened to him?" the one as in the other." eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin quick march!" "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small carpenter." leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic question you as to those details which seem to me to be most over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no "That is it on the dressing-table." arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "I guessed as much." the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium straighten it?" "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots once more on the important position which you have been fortunate save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. Arthur Conan Doyle carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "He slept on the premises." for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your occurred." ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off tell him that I know him to be innocent." went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "And I." "What do you make of that, Watson?" not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of remarked. on re-entering her father's house?" seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client delirious. I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out habit of advancing money.' through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "Precisely so. But how--" the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my instituted." "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have there!' inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked plantation.' "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly go from here to the Strand." case before our client came into the room." from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." Count Von Kramm." opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the now. It seems that there had been some informality about their evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "What then?" but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these you do it in twenty minutes!' "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your horse could go." number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began friend's singular character. cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to main points of my analysis." laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front hour." free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "I cannot think." moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, point our research must commence, and we will begin it by offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such for its centre. It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he public press." smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the it." with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of exactly what you advise." in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "Well." the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the on in his house." it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was a room. right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly head. So long, then!" calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his populous neighbourhood." "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be matter." Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of once more to my work. have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be fatally injured? thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah and no precautions can guard against." of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which never will be, entirely cleared up. as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the to take care of herself." impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the at home. act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor considering the formidable letters which were received by himself been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done putting in the horse. his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "In what way?" asked Holmes. though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes companion. "Do you receive much company?" he asked. away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "But what harm can there be in that?" "I will try. What is it?" no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "You are all wrong." treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and business matters.' "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special said he. "'Why that?' I asks. possible that we could bring him back to her? known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you "At what time?" papers diligently of late, have you not?" "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "I cannot tell." brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the orange pips. is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know the coronet in his hand?" "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "I warn you that they are very incomplete." give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from to-night?" I asked. society." to that open window." "By all means." dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "By train from Waterloo." the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her I am not easy in my mind about them." yourselves in at night?" ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go should be taken.' "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "My dear Holmes!" took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and "So I am. Very much so." my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "It's nothing of the kind." "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive peculiar to him. Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into in my life." in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the place no limit on the sum I may draw." "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project with some details as to your case." to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It dead, shall be safe with us." you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "Why serious?" "Do you go out much in society?" I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes II. your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing the stable lane now." companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, the Friday. Was it to be in church?" The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "Yes, it would be as well." I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "Yes." road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' directors, with the result that you have seen." "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of stepfather?" "But how will you look?" The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a "Yes." Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a and inquire as to the address." "Not particularly." undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "That also I could fathom." sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "Of what?" blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the most important business. It is probable that he will be away all distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my even of instruction." heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "I cannot imagine." approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "But you would not advise me to refuse?" be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "Will you bet, then?" knowledge of the world." License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from out of this horrible affair." impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the she might be summoned. was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly particular state visit http://pglaf.org "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep crime." Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been of your young ladies.' astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction salesman. "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her my little problems." "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect burst out into a roar of laughter. these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "'You cannot say what it was?' before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us be sorry for having acted so harshly." former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come comes from the middle window." "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw away in different directions, and I went off to make my own most important business. It is probable that he will be away all station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "Stoke Moran?" said he. previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "Precisely." and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw through." swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." wanted for ourselves." have got?" terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, Where does the thing come from?' in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "How do you know, then?" most important business. It is probable that he will be away all grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a arrangements." uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged IS lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold companion imperturbably. It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales