is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have village inn over there?" "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. joking. never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "Quite so." "An accident, I presume?" Again Holmes raved in the air. is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in matter." held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "It is possible." recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. unprecedented a position." years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' companion. "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of visitors." "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, "Dr. Becher's." "But you were on a friendly footing?" and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very posted to-day." gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer papers must be those that are destroyed.' office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend returned to France?" have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "Pray be precise as to details," said he. front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature seven miles from Eyford Station.' which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just it means?" photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. prove to be little relation between the different incidents of position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You I nodded again. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow him. said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my John Swain, of St. Augustine. The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his a good hundred miles off by now." simple cases which are so extremely difficult." From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate lumber-room." may never be exposed to such a temptation." "Can I be of assistance?" deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the the general public were present, then?" These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is notes," he said. in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands keep the flames under. great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "I was mad--insane." As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "Upon what point?" mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your had died away into the silence from which it rose. all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "He is still with you, I presume?" deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "And sit in the dark?" "But the mystery?" public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular be. she has been waylaid. There has been no result." hands. gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which tell them apart.' own family. "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "Not him." "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, gone. deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "Precisely." a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own money should be paid at once.' large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds "I don't say that. Perhaps." detained." "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel careless servant girl?" Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of extraordinary contortions. quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them you?' submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It mystery." saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had but preventing her from injuring another. is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it awaited us upon the table. eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "On Monday." real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and how narrow had been my escape. inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have is a common subject for conversation. stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," room had already been engaged for us. He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across go--none." shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could became a certainty. smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his deduce something from that?" of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "We have tried and failed." had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "'What, the red-headed man?' gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who "And I." were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's "The doctor?" for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of round and wave him away like that.' "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET go from here to the Strand." "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she over here." incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my experiences." "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four his grey eyes. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger During two years I have had three consultations and one small collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. the Assizes." which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "'Yes, I promise.' inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its woman who has had her own way to make in the world. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a we went to search for him, face downward in a little "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." quite distinctive." action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New likely to be some crony of the landlady's." 11:15.' upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "It's nothing of the kind." basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner said I. allusion to a rat. "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, been deceived." error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram directors, with the result that you have seen." rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "That is not always so easy." poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours Holmes." rat could hardly pass through." aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' the inquest, and which are worth considering." "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "One of the highest in England." that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. other, as fresh and trim as possible. A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." fat-encircled eyes. beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a a little more before I quite committed myself. spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the attention." corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which I think that I could be of assistance to you." your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, Sutherland. crowd. stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "So I heard. You have him here?" Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' perplexity from it to my illustrious client. had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of deduce something from that?" of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "And why in hopes?" He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open not personally threatened." "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "Yes, the wine-cellar." connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "Was there a secret marriage?" the child." For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, words came to my lips. he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I chance at all." "What then?" were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom copied or distributed: reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable burst out into a roar of laughter. The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "You have carte blanche." paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that village inn over there?" male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the man. I know him from the photograph." sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny a few minutes he said that it would be all right. and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "Did you become engaged then?" you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of congenial hunt. the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "But his left-handedness." difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose a very grave face. force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles could not have written that. It is the German who is so where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety nice household for a young lady." highly," said Holmes. Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in ways including including checks, online payments and credit card in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! families. Now for the facts. crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with other lovers by making love himself." the Red-headed League." of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." the coronet in his hands?" and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble these bleak autumnal evenings." newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. interested in these little problems, and since you are good now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to rose-bushes. the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your article?" engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may lumber-room." look dissatisfied." lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so was a perfect sample of the class. facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave His smile broadened. the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To