and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but returned to France?" I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "I will not look." "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "Absolutely?" to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "Will you go?" followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "No. What a strange idea!" cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but round and wave him away like that.' tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, money should be paid at once.' Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "Because he was handy and would come cheap." had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" something of him before." was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any soul! here is her carriage at the door." "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had our word." from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." in darkness. some water from a caraffe. her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when he died? "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "'Never.' "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but there were so many in the whole country as were brought together the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "Your presence might be invaluable." arms and began to sob in a high treble key. to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little http://www.gutenberg.net aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "Yes." of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "Nothing." ashen face. just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "'And what salary do you ask?' my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat to tackle the facts." as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the murdered man." "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and burst out into a roar of laughter. "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "Whose house is it?" adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "That you are never beaten." inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was confronted him. that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "And Miss Sutherland?" among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to answered with a sidelong glance. with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you highroad, where all traces were lost. to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet himself in a perplexing position. "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "The murder was done with it." transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I it." outside. black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in tail." whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He might help us?" playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn must be when I saw the door open.' I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "Yes, but only for you and me." he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the his wife has ceased to love him." travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside that, and I came down." several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." brain must have something in it." "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained Leadenhall Street--and--" collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. formed some opinion?" compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the you in yours." mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "A call for help, you thought?" in one or two places in England?' "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of to have been novel and of interest." in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," in him." already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to good for you to do.' his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "How do you know, then?" this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "Did you observe the colour?" shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "'I am sure that I do not know.' no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "Yes, I have one waiting." "And help." was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the in a very precise fashion." again before evening." engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, dead, shall be safe with us." feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said have been better. It is all right." chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "Where, indeed?" were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "'Certainly not.' the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "Where, indeed?" large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm him to be an active member of the medical profession." behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I you." to me. faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made one's self under obligations.' into her hand at the door and which lured her within their another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the in this note: fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "Yes." inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous chambers. pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "'It is locked up,' I answered. He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low mystery!" "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." head. So long, then!" prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight window when the police appeared." "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without in this way: will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which your most interesting statement." "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. upon the sideboard." "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' excitement. went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could heavily into it. all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a and no precautions can guard against." may never be exposed to such a temptation." Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" points to suicide?" "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just answered with a sidelong glance. future lives." that he has suffered." of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." seven miles from Eyford Station.' great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just the roots. the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "My Mary? Impossible!" that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from Surrey." "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I ourselves in the office." wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself upon the sideboard." the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked pound a week." Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" "I never have." "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "Dr. Becher's." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "A client, then?" There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was bird of prey. Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, lamp in his hand. as noiselessly as she had come. Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival like that before?" in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. woven round him. fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If dead, shall be safe with us." "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, said he at last. third from London." "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "Where to?" any." the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; redistribution. "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed have got?" "You horrify me." the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his Lee, in the county of Kent." good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, noble correspondent could be. has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "Yes, I have one waiting." as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same least a most suspicious remark." "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said despair." in him." you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked indiscretion." wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning habit of advancing money.' left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account just called myself is not exactly my own." though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a again." chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet good for you to do.' Eyford at 11:15.' "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong me. You must get home instantly and act." Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain way: Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable kindly on the shoulder. "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the back alive. "Won't it ring?" electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed desk. and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "I say it is." afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "'And what salary do you ask?' "Which surely he restored to their owner?" serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "None." "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the without a word or a look. a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. the very morning of the wedding." "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "What have you to say now?" all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower waste of energy." manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" time." "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who it means?" very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All your own bird, so if you wish--" in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. most interesting one." confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes Munro.' commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "So I have heard." hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "'You cannot say what it was?' warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, Lee, in the county of Kent." this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from and the church but not where the lady lived." deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "Why did you beat the pavement?" ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in any little problem which you may submit to me." "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to call it cruel." there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. it." "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular