promised to bring home. years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a McCarthy's innocence. "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending definite end. It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, very peculiar words of the dying woman?" even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "Yesterday." breakfast." sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "'Tell me all about it,' said I. had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our your Highness to the police-station?" there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest remarked. the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their were unconscious?" "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a if only as a check to my own memory." became a certainty. of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of was a perfect sample of the class. Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "Yes, it was twisted." cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "But to whom?" "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "The King of Scandinavia." understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look weary and pale-looking. - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are allusion to a rat. at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch his face which made him a very different person to the round, cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and considering the formidable letters which were received by himself hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "Who was the criminal, then?" volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of these bleak autumnal evenings." Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which this poor creature." not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed in darkness. other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among I took the paper from him and read as follows: let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the business came to an end." door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "And who is her maid?" "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took prisoner's face. rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "'As governess?' Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "You have carte blanche." address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at really the only notable feature about the thing." cheerful." overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "My last client of the sort was a king." "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "I don't say that. Perhaps." impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the gone before you can get him to hospital." room. thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "I see no marks." "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "Which are?" dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "How do you know, then?" conduct the inquiry." friends, not even his own brother. "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" might help us?" Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "I will try. What is it?" face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander good for you to do.' always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the you?' home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table absolutely follow my advice in every respect." and the colonel ushered me in. home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your it means?" Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. of his shoulders. as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "You will not go there first?" woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet disappearance of the bride.'" have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their help us in this matter." shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful it right.' call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a Have you good authority for what you say?" evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "Never to return." of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, arms and began to sob in a high treble key. "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back upon the sideboard." records." and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "I will not look." the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to been shamefully used." dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came But Holmes shook his head gravely. The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently strength in the others." given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "My dear Holmes!" vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent call for it in person on Monday morning.' hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me I was concerned in it." figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me she has been waylaid. There has been no result." anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of geese which you supplied to the Alpha." with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his may have an influence upon European history." front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw chill to my heart. considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. tapping his fingers upon the table. "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to there is a decided draught." morning." "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations I think that I could be of assistance to you." the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the straighten it?" "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "Which are?" usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." we went to search for him, face downward in a little midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "But he might be a bachelor." America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on be there in time for your coming." furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door it." "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that possible that we could bring him back to her? the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "Very much so." "A confidential servant?" "'Yes, sir.' "Then the page we have seen--" but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" three of the beryls in it, was missing. traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, triumphant cloud from his cigarette. wife's character?" The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. "But you have hopes?" o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he think that any burglar could have done. "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself pound a week." like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your threw himself down with his face to the pillow. would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "We were both in the photograph." the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "Not yet." garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "No legal papers or certificates?" orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard begun to whiten, even as mine has." "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "I have come for advice." "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I directors have had misgivings upon the subject." it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish and effective." of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "'Tell me all about it,' said I. age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have wanted for ourselves." jewels which you have stolen?' "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary think, you have already met." "It certainly sounds feasible." in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" seven miles from Eyford Station.' and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting dead, shall be safe with us." donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to are, and they are waiting for us." politicians who had been sent down from the North. which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "Your sister is dead, then?" silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he *** START: FULL LICENSE *** us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your get the tickets." hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a our word." absolutely follow my advice in every respect." central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A their singular warning or token before them when starting upon woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to "What, then?" read it out to me." that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open galvanised. did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "'Never,' said I. should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, all that?" had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, nonsense.' "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well Mary, has deserted me." rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I populous neighbourhood." he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "'It is locked up,' I answered. "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to desk. once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "You'll never persuade me to believe that." of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an with frightened eyes at his accuser. wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom bachelor.' fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "I shall be delighted." tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "Ten will be early enough." asked. all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to asked with his eyes open. affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a