than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "You are all wrong." "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. examination of the premises, but without finding anything which following enigmatical notices: tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look the stones. friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed highly," said Holmes. wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily that he will be back before evening." wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young important." through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud the loss of it. Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower them?" and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "'Ten to two.' active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a "Entirely." orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I get the tickets." once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "Upon what point?" records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and lamp. comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a and files of the old papers, following the future career of every the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round main points of my analysis." "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am delirious. "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which the inquest, and which are worth considering." ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "Where, then?" down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There strange features which were associated with the two crimes which life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I during that time.' heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note golden eyeglasses. papers must be those that are destroyed.' "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "My opinion is in no way altered." they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. with her." "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "Yes. He waved his hands." return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot obstinate." hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by empty. "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other pity, because in other respects you would really have done very house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton point our research must commence, and we will begin it by hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a me, and I could not think that his explanation of the buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing felt the room to be a little close.' need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "He is still with you, I presume?" eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. companion imperturbably. pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob as noiselessly as she had come. leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into before, for it was considerably after midnight. repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "But she could not love him." outbreak?" the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has other means.' seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "Your French gold?" the nursery. was lame." "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. dramatic, in fact." which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside made him keep the appointment." "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was said he at last. such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some was a lad." The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must said he. "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, said he at last. "He is still with you, I presume?" "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery flock.' Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily and capable of preserving a secret.' "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "But it has twice been burgled." other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, of Fenchurch Street." he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "Quite so. She has her freedom." his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was back into the street. Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the to tackle the facts." the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "They are typewritten," I remarked. extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate whether it answered to the description of any of their anything to a woman, for she would have her way." and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it tassel actually lying upon the pillow. opportunities to fix the problem. reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. his fortune, and I went back to pa. yet." realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the strong reason behind." form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn keep the flames under. large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should bled considerably." ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can shoulder; "he's all right." thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This locked. "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "The doctor?" of his shoulders. everything which you would wish to know." "And you don't know his address?" without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home suggested at once that there must be a communication between the old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "And how in the world did you find them?" had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. for securing the situation." not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "It is his hat." Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that late!' Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no always that they were such commands as a lady might with papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. drove away. search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. which we had just quitted. Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman to Leatherhead. Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down depend upon my doing so.' after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "Was the window open?" It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion tell them apart.' during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. London for the present?" unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this Count Von Kramm." wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "But to whom?" because she had spent so short a time in this country that she was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain affection." other means.' that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "How long did she speak to this Alice?" not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. this Miss Turner." that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to soul! here is her carriage at the door." There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "How are you getting on?" "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "Nothing?" "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "And it is--" new acquaintance to Baker Street. "But she will refuse." hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw your troubles." "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned ill-usage at the hands of fortune. betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." the matter?" shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking begin with, and I had not got mine yet." stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out Cross for the Continent." broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander constraint." clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the easy-going way." side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "Very murderous indeed." them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "By all means." Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see his face. without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though all-comprehensive glances. were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two here." extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to business at Coburg Square is serious." "Entirely." another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "Awake, Watson?" he asked. more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "I was mad--insane." a suggestive one." built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" "Of what?" recall any case within my experience which looked at the first the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend did not hear it also.' silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, kind enough to tell me what I should do." stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, likely to be some crony of the landlady's." to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the that I may have something better before very many minutes are pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know dead, shall be safe with us." "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and little adventures." had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "Yes, only one." "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the bed dies. Does not that strike you?" with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" comes from the middle window." happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "By all means." which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a from the brougham. and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is the station." each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There arrested. You then--" here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "It missed him, then?" to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when towards the blaze. The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "Where, indeed?" science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "My opinion is in no way altered." (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without brain must have something in it." assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez disappearance of these gems?" husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. before, for it was considerably after midnight. is four-and-twenty." why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing the bed, and you in that chair." frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in the matter." "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to kind enough to tell me what I should do." assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather most interesting one." the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "At what time?" In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return enter Dr. Roylott's room." "But to whom?" to take care of herself." reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "Then how many are there?" accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "Witness: I must still refuse. "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added to some other building.