other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding in one or two places in England?' were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to I leave." wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would to arrive at through this?" "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I to tell." and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "Have you it here?" interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So humiliation." "You did not overhear what they said?" cigar and let me expound." know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And placed his cuttings. following enigmatical notices: and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high congenial hunt. "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing beyond words. a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I prepare for the new role I have to play." graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got speckled band?" "And how in the world did you find them?" miles off. "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. directors, with the result that you have seen." salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a Countess of Morcar's?" Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in you for a few hours?" I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "Yes, at the mines." secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug you do it in twenty minutes!' inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a shoulder; "he's all right." danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am British peeress.'" face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon to-night?" I asked. the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you been anything against him. He had for years been known as a have been better. It is all right." stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "Yes." VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort formed some opinion?" "'I am sure if I had known--' not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to front of me. which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, tail." three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "Upon what point?" as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I three of the beryls in it, was missing. "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, had no one to advise her at such a crisis." in the port of London." "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "Here?" corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! my former friend and companion. the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert remarked. we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "By no means." with her." solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." had a long day." to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "I think that it is very probable." William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both three of the beryls in it, was missing. "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him man. I know him from the photograph." then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The 1.F. him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. that he will be back before evening." were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "And who is her maid?" "This concluded the examination of the witness." story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "I never have." my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, families. Now for the facts. still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "I am in hopes that she does." "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "'I shall certainly be there.' eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove the window, rose as we entered. old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. http://www.gutenberg.net public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and "'Is purely nominal.' advice." must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I the little opening for the ventilator is." in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which McCarthy." be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. spare." strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "'Is 4 pounds a week.' sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, depend upon my doing so.' "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." not use it unless it is absolutely needed." cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but may have an influence upon European history." "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "Here?" The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This correct than the official force." towards the blaze. home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. fear." thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "The murder was done with it." 11:15.' feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. seem to you to be relevant or not." was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "Nothing." permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into Does that suggest anything?" "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "How did you trace it, then?" "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "Then I shall certainly come." "My dear Holmes!" also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten your only hope of safety." beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and some terrible trap for her." direction." I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not system of imprisonment?" the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled deduce something from that?" friend's singular character. green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for question," said Holmes, smiling. of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went never will be, entirely cleared up. painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "'Ample.' knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. morning." "You were travelling in the States?" Eyford." those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have the best of training." trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy Gutenberg-tm License. "'Yes, sir.' "I will do it." whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "How many? I don't know." absolutely follow my advice in every respect." VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As that you saw all that I did." assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "Witness: It was. rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress you." the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my anything to do with the matter?" Sutherland?" door?" your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our forehead. observed. age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger instituted." before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining introspective fashion. "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "How did that help you?" performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works Serpentine Avenue. scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the pity, because in other respects you would really have done very me, and I could not think that his explanation of the did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE to surprise her." "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair where she found matters as described by the last witness. until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the your equipment. would apply.' speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "But how?" once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "You'll never persuade me to believe that." centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "What?" comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "It is very clear." right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. "Yes." said I. post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm guilty parties." "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez delirious. stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "'Where could I find him?' "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "Pray do so." reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We "Pray tell us what has happened to you." Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "Here?" "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "Have you it here?" chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "It was." more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to written. you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second all?" http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then said I. put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but call you and give you the chance." travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had chill to my heart. slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." chance." Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other undoubtedly my uncle's." wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the way in everything. and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. new duties?' heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself only touch the interest." over his head with a sweet womanly caress. Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. salesman. dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "She will not sell." as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of the driver. "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging there was no need for father to know." is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own with you?" "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "Not yet." interests were the same as his." during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "Not particularly." princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the be sorry for having acted so harshly." "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "Here?" case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming asked with his eyes open. "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three sit on the left-hand side of the driver." thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was