son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite me. You must get home instantly and act." as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year his cane at the bell-pull. benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on at once, for I have only half an hour." which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" not use it unless it is absolutely needed." someone who had been in Australia." my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "I have a cab outside." "The King of Scandinavia." hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "Quite so. She has her freedom." prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "On Monday." cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her know all about it," he snarled. God! What an exposure! What can I do?" The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty From what you have told me I think that it is possible that screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "You are hungry," I remarked. was once confined in the cab my mission was practically chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' matter." End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had "Nothing." "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old congenial hunt. "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was enough to aid us in our search." on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "'And the work?' death." "Then I am your man." robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and giving me time to thank him. over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I very old mansion. in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. eat it." every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily "Why, it's a dummy," said he. trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman room?" "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "Oh, fresh and glossy." "You have carte blanche." "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "And how?" front of the hall door has given its name to the place. can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, sooner or later she must fall a victim. we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "I have solved it." and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in himself to hunt down. across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge upon the shelf for the interim." place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, strode off upon his way. records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. overpowering excitement and concern. my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be tail." was a lad." are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I intrusion of other matters." "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "Not in a good cause." utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my a good hundred miles off by now." he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' about. You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "I am to be neutral?" in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is served to weaken the effect. "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe wife's character?" which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. narrative." "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California "Quite so. She has her freedom." fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "And your mother is alive?" assist you in forming an opinion." presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "Holmes, the busybody!" upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten too. the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this said I. eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of minor matters until to-morrow." lost nothing by them." sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "One horse?" interjected Holmes. instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." his huge brown hands. particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him quick march!" rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have into the bag, and made for the door. "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, main points of my analysis." my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely you for a few hours?" "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything his knees, staring into the fire. His smile broadened. "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all a suggestive one." washing it down with a long draught of water. of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my out of this horrible affair." ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "Yes, the wine-cellar." confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I said Mr. Holder. "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring criminal. We have already had experience of such." "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so fuss that is made over them." registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then you." heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. was used.' "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "Did he not advertise?" empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed evidence," I remarked. which was all perfectly true. thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "But your client--" and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the read over the extraordinary announcement. sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "And you don't know his address?" union?" pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in young Openshaw's." "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I written. that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and DAMAGE. a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that "That was it, sir." assist you in forming an opinion." are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "'I am sure that I do not know.' had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he putting in the horse. drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." presented which may be striking and bizarre without being See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "So it appears." at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "What then?" He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands wedding?" down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And very peculiar words of the dying woman?" a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to strong and stiff." End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by breakfast." "Nothing." extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, down in his armchair and closing his eyes. At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to at once, for I have only half an hour." and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the orange pips. "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "Here?" constraint." "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the made him keep the appointment." because she had spent so short a time in this country that she little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office are windows in it, of course?" horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. these bleak autumnal evenings." to tackle the facts." were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his writer." End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "But I have heard all that you have heard." "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your success. lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "No, finished." into the bag, and made for the door. arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which before the coroner and the police-court." He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my noting anything else of interest. Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me think you a quite exceptional woman." became a certainty. and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "She told me to ask you." is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "In the cells." "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "Perhaps I have." It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the himself. "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to think, you have already met." dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor call the police, let the police find what they can.' father's place of business?" country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My have been better. It is all right." I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case bore every mark of being an average commonplace British together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. used to be." with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it not fit the lock." three fields round his house, and there he would take his walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of posted to-day." "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him have accepted such a situation. prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the her also." upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I are, I think, all that we need." bed dies. Does not that strike you?" dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "Perfectly so." "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point and that he would see to anything that turned up. lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how business?" what I may call a really hard day's work." call you and give you the chance." room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "Now, then, what's the last entry?" were wasted." is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from on in his house." lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him best detective that ever lived. dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in you." metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my how narrow had been my escape. observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." you found me to-night--and running through the front room she foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her brandy and water within his reach. ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." or in danger--" homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. stepfather?" to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it already been minutely examined." his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the