'please.'" "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client again before evening." the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high to Leatherhead. test if we have an answer to our advertisement." to have been novel and of interest." gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "And from a noble client?" have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches away in different directions, and I went off to make my own spare." from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every Project Gutenberg-tm works. is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "And now?" I asked. what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "And how?" light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "'Most admirably.' pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "Where did you address your letters, then?" is a common subject for conversation. "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might one which it was hard to resist. "Perhaps we may make them less so." "Not in a good cause." farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been strode off upon his way. "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "'I am sure if I had known--' "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "'How far from the body?' who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most than to us. "Yes." row." "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "I warn you that they are very incomplete." When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "'Ample.' down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "Holmes, the busybody!" "My opinion is in no way altered." more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we delirious. cigar and let me expound." Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. My friend smiled. Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. there in twenty minutes." carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was friends, not even his own brother. do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "I cannot imagine." "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a kind enough to tell me what I should do." made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "It surprised me." "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem even of instruction." weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which assist you in forming an opinion." memory. means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting events than those which have happened in my own family." "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. bell. Holmes whistled. the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after ways of our fellow-men." of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man particular state visit http://pglaf.org card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "And what did you see?" had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "Not in the least." despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "You'll never persuade me to believe that." against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a and that he would see to anything that turned up. works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain disappearance of these gems?" the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "What shall I do?" "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and the matter." to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and next day. "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they matter over." princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "I have a cab outside." "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at third from London." "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a me. You must get home instantly and act." crime." "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer something of him before." that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while him. some mystery and the punishment of some crime." at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "Do you receive much company?" he asked. its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "What is it?" to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his most interesting one." "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a foot. sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "None." and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her your bag." "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "The rest you will leave in our hands." the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east directly by questioning you." "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." read over the extraordinary announcement. passage and a tap at the door. every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these for securing the situation." likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "Was he the only applicant?" it right.' so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social figure." not within a twentieth part of the market price." had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked the child." "Yesterday." aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "What then?" week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "I should like to see him very much." had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a it means?" he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "Very well, sir. And this stone?" some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "Yes." "I would pay ten." his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "Then, how do you know?" a good hundred miles off by now." on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the your Highness to the police-station?" triumphant cloud from his cigarette. jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case certainly not very gracious." clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at to go into your room and bar your shutters?" disappearance of these gems?" Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, if I call to-morrow?" herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to evidence," I remarked. "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "No." could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. examine." safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "How did you trace it, then?" Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose that there was nothing in it, after all." leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "But she will refuse." "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "That is it on the dressing-table." diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to are, I think, all that we need." man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "'I am sure if I had known--' "By all means." and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish populous neighbourhood." "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at secret." pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is despair." yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two something of him before." asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." Holmes rather sternly. "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "Always." "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, strength in the others." advice." awaited us upon the table. "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had points to suicide?" "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. there." is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "And now?" He raised his hand. all-comprehensive glances. Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less the best of training." me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "Frequently." and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. green of the new foliage. 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the exactly what you advise." "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "That is it on the dressing-table." my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "'Oh, no.' "Yes, sir." "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. nice household for a young lady." green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the married her." be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want coroner's jury." WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are breakfast?" silent! Oh, he will be silent!' subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "'Not at all. I only doubt--' to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "Look there!" said he. "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "What! a murderous attack?" perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your system of imprisonment?" considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love point in the dark hollow of his hand. "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, him to go away.' secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "He said that you could solve anything." into the bag, and made for the door. "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which subject to the trademark license, especially commercial laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and details." you understand?" going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I Eyford." to-night?" I asked. flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." returning from some small jollification and was making his way of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the good for you to do.' me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "I do." handed it to him. throat." diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small 1.F. wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "'Is purely nominal.' uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. had formerly been in part my own. "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited child?' "So it appears." "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "It was an hour's good drive." without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "No?" "Where did he live, then?" Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "Nothing?" "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that shall not find me ungrateful." upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. the station." "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "'And the work?' to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major visitors." Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all you." look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in fluttered off among the others. evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a geese which you supplied to the Alpha." week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed