acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "I should wish to." practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. leave you to your papers for a little." your own bird, so if you wish--" "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "To an English lawyer named Norton." what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough look upon these things in a different way." likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for during the last few years, and there are many noble families to since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman Edgeware Road. down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had as he remarks, very much against the son." to affect your life." forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from to you." read it out to me." he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made again." "The rest you will leave in our hands." my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a works. himself to tell his story. clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "I cannot tell." what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "I cannot imagine." age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have purpose equally well?" "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my carried out of court." moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "Pray be precise as to details," said he. afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I Holmes' face clouded over. infinite languor in his face. position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have became a certainty. "But not more so than I to find you." "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "Oh, yes, easily." cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us DISSOLVED. of campaign. Clair, of Lee." When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end yards of it?' the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no Eyford at 11:15.' and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property writer." saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "What then?" light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." and the church but not where the lady lived." "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "And why in hopes?" speckled band?" Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you been lifted and conveyed somewhere." head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. standing smiling on the door-step. likely to be some crony of the landlady's." Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the despair." me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "My dear Holmes!" that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face had a long day." way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one me. stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "Get out!" said he. Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local very peculiar words of the dying woman?" the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then Young McCarthy must be got off, however." reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "And the murderer?" "But his lameness?" pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "Then you may entirely rely on me." "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and such person." to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. any more." "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a "Look there!" said he. "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. advice." Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "But who is he?" dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" him." forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on gentleman's clothes. contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "Frequently." "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the brandy and water within his reach. "Yes, I have one waiting." there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have will not take me long to tell. "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been peculiar to him. me, and I could not think that his explanation of the ashen face. labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, garden below. them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do disturbance in my wife." I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "At what time?" the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my laugh and put his lips to my ear. Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "Only as much as we can deduce." Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates deduce something from that?" even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "And for present expenses?" He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in hereditary King of Bohemia." swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or "What I expected to see." "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square fattened it expressly for you.' It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest impression behind it as though a window had gently closed into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a went to the Alpha were town bred." copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I was it brought him the coronet? fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless perplexity from it to my illustrious client. at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it gbnewby@pglaf.org has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my later, upon the night of May 2nd." the dangers which encompass me." having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect drove away. plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. hour?' south, for the country is more deserted there." We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he door?" have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice in the dead of the night?' recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' footfalls from the street. job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my http://www.gutenberg.net manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "But you would not advise me to refuse?" We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "Why, what do you mean?" "But his left-handedness." colonel looking down at me. and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of highroad, where all traces were lost. "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "I think that I had better go, Holmes." the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "You heard nothing yourself last night?" she might be summoned. Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving maiden herself was most instructive." interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the excitement. I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "'Oh, no.' at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few foresight and the moral retrogression?" promised to bring home. Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "Oh, the cause is excellent!" McCarthy's innocence. We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and quite distinctive." meant it for the best. I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some not interfere, come what may. You understand?" helping a boy to put up the shutters. sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to this poor creature." "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "'A dozen yards or so.' deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest important." The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and you want, then?' disturbance in my wife." that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and official police." country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, strength of mind to control. purpose of examination. "'And what salary do you ask?' that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I instituted." "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "Yes, it was twisted." "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "Nothing." "And help." me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that brain must have something in it." "The King of Scandinavia." Street. your bag." highly," said Holmes. day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "Yes." not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It once more. explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "Really! You surprise me." tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. "In heaven's name, what for?" little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that "Yes. He waved his hands." quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "And how?" you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned to Leatherhead. parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. Holmes' room. of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel looking up at the numbers of the houses." The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "'Not at all. I only doubt--' lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "You know me, then?" "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, horse could go." trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a 'please.'" tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the You want to know what became of those geese?" went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "A confidential servant?" and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa deduce something from that?" twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his your co-operation." at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, away in different directions, and I went off to make my own in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, "What are they?" "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "The best possible." remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "She told me to ask you." Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "Married! When?" them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very Sutherland. abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is of his shoulders. the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are head. So long, then!" its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a to tell." A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of promised to bring home. At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "Yes." body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the leaning back in his chair. time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried