paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune you." "We have tried and failed." disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "'Entirely.' there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have burst into a hearty fit of laughter. belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip that there was nothing in it, after all." despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, views." to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." happened." coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "Stolen." "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I acquaintance?" my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for forecastle of an emigrant ship. back alive. "Well?" pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "I am in hopes that she does." "No, but the enclosure is." you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is Clair, of Lee." with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "'Ample.' At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "What are they?" and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and morning." naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, colour had been driven from his face. broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how you in yours." 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what it with his own hands." "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the companion imperturbably. dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the was not a bird to be seen there. upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about the loss of it. "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of photograph?" considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "Yes. He waved his hands." round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "'And what are they worth?' I asked. could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I outside." are, I think, all that we need." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" important." card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical his face. upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself she used." "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "Certainly." and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. the window, rose as we entered. stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the salesman. reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but salesman. permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the away to you." "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "I cannot as yet see any connection." The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was to arrive at through this?" impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had future lives." face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "Which are?" "My own seal." to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "And leave your case unfinished?" expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were breakfast?" yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which of this gang." astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" Street. "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "I cannot imagine." could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were his face which made him a very different person to the round, for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "You have compromised yourself seriously." "Then I do not see the point." "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "And your father? Did you tell him?" "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock eavesdroppers?' Doctor, of the paper and the date." your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "I will do it." "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was photograph?" closing the door. the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his the devil!" memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "But the mystery?" have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "Yes, but only for you and me." you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties you understand?" in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. laugh and put his lips to my ear. Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "Was she in good spirits?" paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That will take you up to see the machine.' I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "VIOLET HUNTER." The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "Nothing." journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were people don't know." drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a success. "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with amused." the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "None. Neville wrote those words." get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may towards the blaze. papers." then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her against a man in the prime of life?" "'Yes, it was gone.' dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. gentleman's clothes. "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed here." door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, knowledge of the world." only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "You know me, then?" take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "This concluded the examination of the witness." "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "Nothing." given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "Not particularly." floor. stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium London for the present?" When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the made him keep the appointment." test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your something of him before." yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "The landlord of the Alpha." Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His hair?' "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "But you can know nothing of this?" him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "How did he come?" deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you crowd. succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. tail." which our visitor detailed to us. desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no your most interesting statement." knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman photograph a cabinet?" 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "Where did you address your letters, then?" ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "It may not come to that," said Holmes. nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what felt?" doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "And how?" appeared upon the scene." have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "A thing like a cleaver," said he. stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "That is also quite modern," said the lady. laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and stepfather?" produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "At half-wages, in fact." His name is Francis Prosper." leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat there was no need for father to know." "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "What will you say?" feature." electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "By no means." With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "'There is a drive, then?' leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am was not a bird to be seen there. were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's "Where, then, is my wife?" rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked were unconscious?" and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my desk. to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but your most interesting statement." He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "That's no good." doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid know what is wrong with it.' "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the Sutherland. "A call for help, you thought?" of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "Pray be precise as to details," said he. need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "And is that all?" "What! a murderous attack?" The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. companion imperturbably. through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to "'I am sure that I do not know.' shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "You have a clue?" THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir asked. of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the Eyford." Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' nonsense.' anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire became a certainty. Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My you." "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "Perhaps I have." we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he tapping his fingers upon the table. Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly ran thus: collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "That was it, sir." prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "It was." conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six which we had just quitted. throat." "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and the so-precious time, but come!' "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood