and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding cost them two and thirty pounds." "No bad?" congratulate you again." my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, answered with a sidelong glance. thought that she would have been so carried away." nice household for a young lady." "Certainly, madam." delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of writer." "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "You have the photograph?" While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" be. held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "'I have heard so.' your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very said I. request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she village inn over there?" evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you went to the Alpha were town bred." "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted "Were they all fastened this morning?" always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "Well, some hundreds of times." Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "No." incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' this remarkable episode. creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely and all of them with the keenest interest. particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "Nothing?" rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "You think so, too?" see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the to miss it." "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life bird I ate is country bred." brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just perplexity from it to my illustrious client. withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the not personally threatened." glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it to some other building. hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite the window, rose as we entered. Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "Where, then?" "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" place no limit on the sum I may draw." some city in a dream. you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John horse could go." minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make been able to understand it, in a very few words. within hail.' and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young paper in the air. slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban Where does the thing come from?' scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His outside." being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" is four-and-twenty." copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "No, I had a dozen." Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "Then I am your man." Henry Baker is a member." glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the seem to you to be relevant or not." either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to copied or distributed: very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." it right.' a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a "The rest you will leave in our hands." the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. occurred." but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "Then you may be so with me." the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "Yes, I have one waiting." unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I read over the extraordinary announcement. Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." enter into my head. "But not more so than I to find you." train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by during that time.' "But his lameness?" common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that goes." "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "One?" tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "'Never.' receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a cigars in their mouths. absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of records." walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "Then, as to money?" "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the your own bird, so if you wish--" to-night?' Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to was shining brightly. his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view there." you want, then?' "Dark enough and sinister enough." "'I have already given you my word.' painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "How are you getting on?" of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of This is what he says: "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough face and glided from the room. black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they hurried by. which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My the bottom.' "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "Ah!" "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning with you?" my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small Have you good authority for what you say?" been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "Yesterday." not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should round and wave him away like that.' "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands as yours." really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of fish-monger and a tide-waiter." some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "My own seal." had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her views." business." carriage. It was a chestnut." dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his just ask you whether you had heard it.' orange pips. Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "And what did you see?" assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and asked. for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential again on its way. as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales some city in a dream. my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "But not more so than I to find you." comes from the middle window." "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, unkempt, staring out at me. it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" Sutherland. unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "Pray do so." of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This and effective." "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "That is also quite modern," said the lady. married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I was used.' Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "Why, it's a dummy," said he. firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was in. so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the his face which made him a very different person to the round, Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "Quite so. She has her freedom." pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "I have come for advice." business matters.' "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "My last client of the sort was a king." "By no means." "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained started for the Temple to see my husband. pictures, libraries, or plate. Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, not as remarkable as your advertisement." I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters morning." the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad pity, because in other respects you would really have done very of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several views." were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about respectable self." these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "None." be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." in. problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off shoulder. in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where it with his own hands." "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where Lee, in the county of Kent." "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "I came to find a friend." entirely lost his self-respect." the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began cost them two and thirty pounds." "'About the same.' A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "Now, then, what's the last entry?" always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "Yes, certainly." of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among better in every way that they should make their position a little "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" lamp. with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in strong reason behind." appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely the running down." of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know question you as to those details which seem to me to be most wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, go back?" and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. coroner's jury." the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining "Which are?" "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? tied." woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to "Really! You surprise me." "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "Absolutely none." "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "My dear Holmes!" your co-operation." closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close enter into my head. someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her of this gang." shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like is now desirous of getting those letters back." probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "Then, how do you know?" at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "'Tell me all about it,' said I. Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. "Then I do not see the point." to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he Literary Archive Foundation was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in been." who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. she might be summoned. the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a pierced for earrings?" "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I formed some opinion?" door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment,