the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear "You'll never persuade me to believe that." All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. that?' "Absolutely none." peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be is now desirous of getting those letters back." you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "I am still in the dark." "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you heavily into it. the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to fashion which was peculiar to him. "I cannot tell." round and wave him away like that.' nothing of it?" may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child is entirely a question of barometric pressure." social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a in. "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "And I to find an enemy." to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "I guessed as much." writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." invisible to me," I remarked. even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and points in connection with it which never have been, and probably "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "I know where it is." tightly behind him. the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an breakfast?" "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark been anything against him. He had for years been known as a Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must once more. "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." not as remarkable as your advertisement." Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes bedroom door." "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that fluttered off among the others. with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and nice household for a young lady." "'Where could I find him?' business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon have established a very serious case against the son of the railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm as he folded up the epistle. gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "What I expected to see." and the colonel ushered me in. directors have had misgivings upon the subject." something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "And did you observe any change in her then?" ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "Stolen, then." was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered this as likely?" provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of corner of the building. Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It other lovers by making love himself." which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "Yes." and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I Chief Executive and Director Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded said he. wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all works. permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." Mrs. Toller serenely. which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "But how?" violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of fishes. be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last he. would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the know what is wrong with it.' "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "'Yes, it was gone.' green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he clang of the bell. The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast the coronet in his hand?" "That is easily got." hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "Dirty?" ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. stood on the top of it. heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I national property. I was determined that the law should have its cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of as noiselessly as she had come. the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, less than 26s. 4d. "Holmes, the busybody!" and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "Yes, but only for you and me." delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a "No more words. Get out!" the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and cheerful." "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. nights." weighed down with some great anxiety. purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a bed dies. Does not that strike you?" pity, because in other respects you would really have done very the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third said he. greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "Perhaps I have." constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the "Very much so." shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a fuss that is made over them." and prosperity to your house. Good-night." a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same way in." and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. passage and a tap at the door. "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which subject to the trademark license, especially commercial say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way quickly through a disagreeable task. then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying McCarthy." "I am still in the dark." "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "The landlord of the Alpha." "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands John Swain, of St. Augustine. gone. afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "Well." place no limit on the sum I may draw." results." "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "How are you getting on?" in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us fat-encircled eyes. "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "I will get her to show me." very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a tightly behind him. annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "Yes." drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the the loss of it. firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it most important business. It is probable that he will be away all however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were better grown goose." incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout since then to throw any light upon what became of him." do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "The decline of his fortunes, then?" probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "You will not go there first?" "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "What?" Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the fasten all the windows?" "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel beg that you will break it off." said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that most important business. It is probable that he will be away all hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic "I cannot imagine." in this way: I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "Nothing?" With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "'Yes, I promise.' where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. you want, then?' wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation I shall communicate with you." said he. two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in comes from the middle window." which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of during that time.' It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of best detective that ever lived. prove to be little relation between the different incidents of me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat copied or distributed: "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" acquaintance?" years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time bachelor.' child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in tell me that you intended to go into harness." departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, status with the IRS. at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort amused." "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as Holmes. grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the giving me time to thank him. side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, to-morrow." "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. constraint." simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to "How did you deduce the select?" "Not I." "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "And how did you verify them?" papers." "No good news?" the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door fat-encircled eyes. were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "No." "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "She showed me, as I told you she would." overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the when you have done it." visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what may have an influence upon European history." professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of business at Coburg Square is serious." and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the presume?" much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in stood on the top of it. "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet unkempt, staring out at me. you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the persecution?" 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was without a word or a look. say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "That is it on the dressing-table." may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, to-night's adventure." wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate least a fellow-countryman. could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre despair." "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "In San Francisco, a year ago." will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a the inner apartment." opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. if she died from some sudden fright." upon the sideboard." invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his on in his house." tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good most important business. It is probable that he will be away all comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "Certainly, madam." "A greater distance to travel." in this note: "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps introspective fashion. bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "It is to him that this trophy belongs." coat-tails." the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "Do you know him?" test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless look dissatisfied." Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "But you were on a friendly footing?" little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that Holmes." prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that shall use the carriage to-night." brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in front of the hall door has given its name to the place. front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age