voice, changing her seat as requested. "Married! When?" which I could not give. He asked for Alice. and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "Yes." call it cruel." collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "What! a murderous attack?" their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many interests were the same as his." would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the question. There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "Only as much as we can deduce." several quiet little villages up there." floor. do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "You don't mind breaking the law?" "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "To an English lawyer named Norton." destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "Always." I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a you?' slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "I am sure." wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that colonel looking down at me. "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain south, for the country is more deserted there." row." interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "But she will refuse." "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "You are all wrong." we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, served to weaken the effect. returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, think that he is innocent?" evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "Never." "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real chair. who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was sneer upon his pale face. he died? erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "Ample." whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." country, and eventually married, without anyone having a nothing with him." Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if business." "Witness: I must still refuse. Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." dear old homesteads?" said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp Pope's Court. the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another best detective that ever lived. "I see no marks." lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "She will not sell." that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but returning from some small jollification and was making his way details should find their way into the papers. Inspector Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. You can understand that this register and diary may implicate direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I this man was intellectual?" "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant completely overtopped every other consideration that we both while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "You horrify me." It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in Foundation "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. mystery!" confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "Not in the least." And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, know all about it," he snarled. "Yes, but only for you and me." "Very murderous indeed." "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "Nothing." PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls call the police, let the police find what they can.' "Come in!" said he. "What I expected to see." "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, me have 200 pounds?' "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly I held the little printed slip to the light. American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle grasp, he hurried from the room. "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of completely overtopped every other consideration that we both and looked back. Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "And from a noble client?" to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "What is it?" a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same and no precautions can guard against." and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance occurred." "'Why that?' I asks. back into the street. it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's people don't know." to me. "And on what day did he meet his death?" "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "Ample." but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." "You have carte blanche." "I see no marks." "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "I am to be neutral?" thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature situation." refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "Yes." for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "It is very kind of you." Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point she used." posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), jewels which you have stolen?' "It certainly sounds feasible." in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with forbidden door. "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "Where to?" engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. I shall continue with my miserable story. mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I wedding?" floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "Holmes, the busybody!" streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and weary and pale-looking. you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, interest. They are important, you understand, without being every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed served to weaken the effect. Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was to talk it over. though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for your troubles." hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. that you saw all that I did." as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "He said that you could solve anything." few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "Never." time." daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "And how in the world did you find them?" Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come you?' "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." asked with his eyes open. "And sit in the dark?" "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and purpose of examination. burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "What, then, did Peterson do?" "Yes, only one." somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We was a perfect sample of the class. have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and to go into your room and bar your shutters?" opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main ourselves in the office." back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this constraint." "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "My private note-paper." even so self-evident a thing as that." know all about it," he snarled. convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "Was the window open?" Munro.' course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every not use it unless it is absolutely needed." nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in yards of it?' of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the some city in a dream. "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the joking. to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" down. "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "'And the work?' which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the go from here to the Strand." "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in individual and becomes the badge of a society." always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "Where did you address your letters, then?" light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "How are you getting on?" politicians who had been sent down from the North. skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern very old mansion. hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "My last client of the sort was a king." power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain approach us with offers to donate. all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon third from London." "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of lost his Christmas dinner." and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. him!" firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "I don't believe it." lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a you." copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "Oh, yes, easily." "So I heard. You have him here?" balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly States. that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "I will not look." little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "Yes." since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the would then never go into court at all." of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." cause to be." rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an ran thus: study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing II. "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "Just look it up, then." "You don't mind breaking the law?" the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have "Nothing." lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction