in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never at home. my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "Oh, fresh and glossy." way in everything. Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head second window is the one that I jumped from." intimate personal affairs in this public manner." clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "An enemy?" desk. as this. Pray let me have the details." "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the next day. annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your Leadenhall Street--and--" comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down families. Now for the facts. in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it dead, shall be safe with us." managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." to a more successful conclusion." "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "'And the work?' Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several bled considerably." "Game for a morning drive?" play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the never to learn it at all." "He is still with you, I presume?" misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless through." dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "Well, it is a possible supposition." moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." asked. I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the at once, for I have only half an hour." the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "You are all wrong." and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "No, but the enclosure is." "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? strong reason behind." ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it arrested. You then--" Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a excitement. down. imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that back to my heart. twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to the date of his supposed suicide." Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "Seven!" I answered. Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector always that they were such commands as a lady might with her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The article?" particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety without a word or a look. traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon before, for it was considerably after midnight. impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated Street. had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered your room." in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "Entirely." bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring tail." gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "Who by?" "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are skylight. were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At works. See paragraph 1.E below. is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning possible that we could bring him back to her? yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "That was it, sir." "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "Why, it's a dummy," said he. address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "ARAT," I read. presented more singular features than that which was associated "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said if she died from some sudden fright." house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was occupations.' trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait and put his glass in his pocket. Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of subject to the trademark license, especially commercial fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low "I am about to be married." Does that suggest anything?" have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling extraordinary contortions. "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "She showed me, as I told you she would." there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not do you make of it all?" prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "I have hopes." what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to the bottom.' "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear into the room. your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "No." "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself morning." mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "At what time?" you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "We have tried and failed." "'Very good.' "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he the side-table." observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "I would give my fortune to have them back." "And Miss Sutherland?" We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I to tell." "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." the room while you explain this matter?" tell me that you intended to go into harness." received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "Not social, then?" the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me ventilator." Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "'Which dealer's?' indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave "My stepfather's business papers." "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was lumber-room." which we had just quitted. 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's the date of his supposed suicide." ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "'I have already given you my word.' upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable over part of the map. "What do you read?" twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others "And how did you find out?" of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." amused." This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I the King without delay." work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "Well?" "You'll never persuade me to believe that." To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began electronic works dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" think that any burglar could have done. "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it "If I can be of use." pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it of his shoulders. "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, indiscretion." Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I instituted." at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "Two days later this same performance was gone through under scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "To ruin me." "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are "None." and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "Then I can wait in the next room." eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built some city in a dream. master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "At the wedding breakfast." I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming telegram would bring me down to your help." young Openshaw's." these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "Proceed, then." cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "Eh? What was that?" relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly to some other building. Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and had died away into the silence from which it rose. Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "Two days later this same performance was gone through under anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the I shall continue with my miserable story. "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face subject to the trademark license, especially commercial when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "Yes." he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a present strange and interesting features that it is no easy her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. of the way of danger. "It was an hour's good drive." he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, recall any case within my experience which looked at the first married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which been with you?" explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting drawing your inferences." had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some electronic works "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" American. Then who could this American be, and why should he threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "Entirely." occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his in a very precise fashion." whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "Certainly." snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates hand, madam?" us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and "'What would be the hours?' I asked. that?' 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what my room." nothing of it?" "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" closely." confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that said I. Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "What, then?" me, and I could not think that his explanation of the open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger giving me time to thank him. "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "No, finished." cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after astonishment. "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late you." into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared bachelor.' Young McCarthy must be got off, however." disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "It certainly sounds feasible." most interesting one." villagers almost as much as their master. remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. present strange and interesting features that it is no easy doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or "'Is purely nominal.' didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." Holmes rather sternly. intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "This concluded the examination of the witness." Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. important." state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass