ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." best detective that ever lived. "It is his hat." endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would you." corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "It is true that I have been generally successful." wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I clanging. which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss or other trace. But how on earth--" "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love Henry Baker is a member." confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "I was afraid that you were engaged." these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have again." man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "I have my revolver," said I. both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "I cannot think." lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they "Where, indeed?" of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light delirious. judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such away to you." and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with long narrative. in this way: "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and followed. Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe investigation." "She showed me, as I told you she would." address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and them?" with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "He is still with you, I presume?" that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at disappearance of these gems?" for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "Frequently." by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his Doctor, of the paper and the date." to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce 'please.'" she slowly sank and died without having recovered her every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve undoubtedly my uncle's." Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with could gather together that I was able to avert another public how narrow had been my escape. answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." national property. I was determined that the law should have its "But who is he?" "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the the coronet in his hands?" and a shock of very red hair. you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in you understand?" "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one your equipment. it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." breakfast?" "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, My friend smiled. was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "'Yes, sir.' "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "Ah!" breakfast." that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet will not take me long to tell. "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm it." "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To to where he stood hid behind the curtain. also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at to you." "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the distinguish the words: shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "Yes." turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened a room. parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope locked." find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three has little to do with my story." Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his "Eh? What was that?" "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during suggested at once that there must be a communication between the though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an "So I am. Very much so." the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "You have compromised yourself seriously." "That is easily got." railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I noise which awoke you from your sleep?" James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." highly," said Holmes. They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could at once, for I have only half an hour." was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. I shall communicate with you." enter into my head. extraordinary contortions. Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On before the coroner and the police-court." building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the brought there to personate someone, and the real person is it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." British peeress.'" used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he the loss of it. violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "I will try. What is it?" prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive she used." form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact when your master had gone out." I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own the stable lane now." before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, think that any burglar could have done. to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a "It may not come to that," said Holmes. without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "But he might be a bachelor." third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "And Irene Adler?" mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see was a lad." so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter the so-precious time, but come!' remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every union?" think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly pierced for earrings?" find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended chambers. over here." "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" not fit the lock." he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a of note-paper. It read in this fashion: laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the that before taking the final step I should like to submit the you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very business at Coburg Square is serious." Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "'A dozen yards or so.' "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, a suggestive one." and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in himself in a perplexing position. was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the the child." "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at You want to know what became of those geese?" held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was in a very precise fashion." also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming "No, I am descending." skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who fashion which was peculiar to him. chambers. years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much such attractions and accomplishments?' twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "That is unusual in a young girl." "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the it were putty." but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his instituted." certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been four million human beings all jostling each other within the "And you can do nothing until then?" to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "What, then, did Peterson do?" "'I am sure if I had known--' the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, memory. homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "One of the highest in England." "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "Pray tell us what has happened to you." a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "Yes, it would be as well." her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the "Ah, but I was recommended to you." father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "Ah!" "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "Your French gold?" be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "It certainly sounds feasible." the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was your bag." is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "Not in the least." remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I comes from the middle window." "Why serious?" my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear up this clue while it is still hot." The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: visitors." fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "What do you make of that, Watson?" hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was any little problem which you may submit to me." which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "I have seen the police." "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. his wife has ceased to love him." "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. IS I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must appeared upon the scene." upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of them?" "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "It was a confession," I ejaculated. He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and "No. What a strange idea!" writing, and yet I know it well." down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" him to go away.' "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. stammered. that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful front of the hall door has given its name to the place. wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "Do you know him?" particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in a little more before I quite committed myself. Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of hands. "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, little trying to do so much typewriting?" you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "What shall I do?" as the one I chose?' narrative." we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. the running down." It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own him, that man would not have given me such complete information "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "'Yes, I promise.' brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her you." "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. joking. see a sister of mine apply for." analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot strange features which were associated with the two crimes which my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a Literary Archive Foundation "'What, the red-headed man?' again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence Holmes. Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you eavesdroppers?' public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "He said that you could solve anything." an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor jewels which you have stolen?' "Yesterday." similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle sake, don't!" observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the