and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "On the contrary, this is the right side." a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low Farm upon the left." and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "Look there!" said he. When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes at my own good fortune. was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret once more on the important position which you have been fortunate least a most suspicious remark." for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly husband's writing, madam." cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would geese which you supplied to the Alpha." any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to stammered. "I came to find a friend." entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself DISSOLVED. It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast at home. "An accident, I presume?" back alive. "It is possible." as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a national property. I was determined that the law should have its owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than http://www.gutenberg.net acquaintance?" the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "Quite so." for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "But who is he?" "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I the very morning of the wedding." handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even ran thus: to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she absorbing." the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "So I heard. You have him here?" without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my success. his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. Holmes rather sternly. be sorry for having acted so harshly." like that before?" little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble been lifted and conveyed somewhere." be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of the Assizes." Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, that there was nothing in it, after all." often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside arms and began to sob in a high treble key. "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's think you a quite exceptional woman." "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much the night.' so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." the room while you explain this matter?" through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "The vanishing of the lady." and laid it on the table. Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be constraint." two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said lamp in his hand. upon a handsome competence. "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "What of the rat, then?" lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "I will do it." me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was purpose of examination. sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and mysterious business." the King without delay." habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "I cannot say that I have." have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "I cannot say that I have." Henry Baker is a member." it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "What! a murderous attack?" behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could "Not yet." "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my voice, changing her seat as requested. in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing man. made his money." lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as something of him before." endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those present." betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to mysterious business." "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that I shall continue with my miserable story. walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten grasp, he hurried from the room. the morning and make my own way in the world.' not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room It may be so in this case, also." had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a out." "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "The rest you will leave in our hands." my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I of a light. which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a returned to France?" Holmes' face clouded over. I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan I am not easy in my mind about them." were unconscious?" woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the it means?" "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. better grown goose." The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 during the last few years, and there are many noble families to security.' "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector father's place of business?" force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and your only hope of safety." "And Miss Sutherland?" "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I astonishment. unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom man. once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "You have the photograph?" "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll the best of training." a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that some water from a caraffe. madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've been anything against him. He had for years been known as a which we had just quitted. Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "No, my brougham is waiting." and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers was it brought him the coronet? but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, better grown goose." "But I am all in the dark." paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "Yes." round and wave him away like that.' contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" details." "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" walking." his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my speckled band?" it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "Why did you beat the pavement?" of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever foot. "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the views." young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not him nearly every evening." Miss Holder?" in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. murdered man." Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "He is dead," cried several voices. I think that I could be of assistance to you." fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "Pray let us have it, for all that." then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "I cannot tell." "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "To an end?" clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their very old mansion. hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "Look there!" said he. have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had keep the flames under. thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." round with crates and massive boxes. of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up said Mr. Holder. sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "Which surely he restored to their owner?" placed his cuttings. murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could you?" "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "Yes, sir." my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "It is half-past ten now." concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a figure." "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "It is to him that this trophy belongs." again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." some mystery and the punishment of some crime." important." anything to do with the matter?" in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you call it cruel." perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the results." time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence had a long day." loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "The Coroner: What do you mean? room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "Frequently." gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "But his lameness?" poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his Sutherland. B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the stalked out of the room. all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may there has been an enclosure here!" them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable union?" honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged both be extremely obliged.' but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "Your presence might be invaluable." who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged shaken than I had ever seen him. tied." of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down acquaintance?" result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining round with crates and massive boxes. waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered their singular warning or token before them when starting upon you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last papers diligently of late, have you not?" her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "That is not always so easy." "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "Not yet." your room." should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen for securing the situation." The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. of the efforts of the United States government and of the better thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An "Then you may entirely rely on me." to where he stood hid behind the curtain. Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier crackling voice. and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is see me here to avoid scandal." parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was matter." deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. key turn in the lock." himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will we went to search for him, face downward in a little there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, our word." stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, a few minutes he said that it would be all right. already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a dead, shall be safe with us." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but the best of training." something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by in this note: adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert