into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "Nearly eleven." and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between companion. time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to third from London." "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up "'I shall certainly be there.' I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "Was there a secret marriage?" "What can you not understand?" "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, tightly behind him. shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "How did he come?" "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "An accident, I presume?" "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! me what he had done with the three missing stones. "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between in. collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, you give your casting vote to?" over here." method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which "I was mad--insane." Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my thin, with a long, sharp nose?" of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those stammered. actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that answered with a sidelong glance. light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need that before taking the final step I should like to submit the for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "And for present expenses?" *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was me." someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "Never to return." sneer upon his pale face. the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "That is it on the dressing-table." "I cannot say that I have." "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "In what way?" asked Holmes. "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and ashen face. "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was bearing upon the case." she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "Precisely so. But how--" constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "Yes." "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to papers on the sundial.'" that?' the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand happened." Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "But to whom?" swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to him and tried to hold him back. shall not find me ungrateful." upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily have an American origin." companion. however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me The summons was a brief and urgent one. http://www.gutenberg.net gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. served to weaken the effect. two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "I answered that I had not. would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "Absolutely?" vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "I cannot imagine." upon the sideboard." "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "And from a noble client?" and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. Watson," he said cordially. "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "'You doubt its value?' he asked. his forehead." whereabouts. "I will get her to show me." him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him vanished into the darkness. the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. made him keep the appointment." "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned mysterious end." since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had knowledge of the world." "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable here." saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "Yes, all." quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, details should find their way into the papers. Inspector against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally information in his hands the value of which he did not himself me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my there has been an enclosure here!" are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking You want to know what became of those geese?" wife's character?" the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property call you and give you the chance." the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do Holmes' room. broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns Holmes rather sternly. passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and promised to bring home. left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm the date of his supposed suicide." to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing during which he might have communicated with his friend the WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I mystery!" superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of developed." doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and people don't know." returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your straightened it out again. affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." Eyford." before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." works. "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb and looked back. my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be fat-encircled eyes. that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "You think so, too?" in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera me. office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "There is the writing." something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "Precisely so. But how--" the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, Sutherland?" "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly "Breckinridge is his name." "They are typewritten," I remarked. Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his subject to the trademark license, especially commercial However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but of this gang." the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside point our research must commence, and we will begin it by younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "That is possible." 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. the so-precious time, but come!' "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "Of Friday, June 19th." "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very secret." and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the one's self under obligations.' said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "What office?" and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for had no one to advise her at such a crisis." either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. guilty one." inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under Munro.' that you saw all that I did." "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved unclasping of his long thin hands. I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, during the last few years, and there are many noble families to frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "Oh, the cause is excellent!" Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "'Why that?' I asks. her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project cup of tea. "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice whereabouts. Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his results." "Were they all fastened this morning?" "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There giving me time to thank him. inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his quite distinctive." slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" your bag." "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "'I shall certainly be there.' "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the secret." purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the easy-going way." "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution matter." Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "No." deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector definite end. propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come the night.' "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the outbreak?" Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, "You don't mind breaking the law?" right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. Holmes. strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in it means?" hard-headed British jury." "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "And on what day did he meet his death?" States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I helping a boy to put up the shutters. and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, notes," he said. that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one wedding?" perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not said he. IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "And on what day did he meet his death?" "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "Then I do not see the point." solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do should be taken.' premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if that you wished to speak to me?' "Pray tell us what has happened to you." chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was straightened it out again. latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. Sutherland?" "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" night.' said he. fuss that is made over them." possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. with you?" spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just silent! Oh, he will be silent!' front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "Never." cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small like gravel from a pit.' salesman. Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. about here speaks of his kindness to him." crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "Absolutely?" clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I indeed happy." fire. You quite follow me?" Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out emerged. Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am