of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went more terrible than the truth. in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were there is a decided draught." bonnet, and went out." "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "But she will refuse." "'Oh, no.' clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more as he remarks, very much against the son." that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so served to weaken the effect. you in your example." frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "Where, indeed?" immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his walking." the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "Of what?" "I am to be neutral?" can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, in one or two places in England?' understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "He might." meant." me." "Frequently." "Certainly." waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. tied." habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he my little problems." If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of believe that I should never have any practice at all. you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "And for present expenses?" fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you together. into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of of your young ladies.' ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. fat-encircled eyes. wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "I cannot imagine." darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the away into the river." "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to Literary Archive Foundation "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" second window is the one that I jumped from." "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was upon a handsome competence. you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it populous neighbourhood." position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. said he at last. "Witness: It was. pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "The decline of his fortunes, then?" serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's dates and names. This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is than to us. feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he the south-west, I see." pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added vault. "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "What!" he roared. really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "The gentleman I describe." "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one province." one's self under obligations.' and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "Yes, at the mines." hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "Then I shall certainly come." what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having entirely devoid of interest." pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him arms and began to sob in a high treble key. where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was over with notes and figures. fattened it expressly for you.' "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his closing the door. while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank in his power. "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. that you can jump it.' ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we fact, we may call it conclusive." Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "I have my revolver," said I. the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. four million human beings all jostling each other within the "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "But of what society?" "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "Stolen, then." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some Holmes." "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "At the wedding breakfast." as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "Then I do not see the point." astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "Not I." "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or "And what did you see?" "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. occupations.' house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, hour?' heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news returning from some small jollification and was making his way "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "Yes, certainly." narrative." make me his representative both with the servants and with the our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." forehead. caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. foresight and the moral retrogression?" "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions Cross for the Continent." to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of redistribution. parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can point our research must commence, and we will begin it by gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "Of Friday, June 19th." copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative habit of advancing money.' seven miles from Eyford Station.' residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on "To an end?" the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away note?" once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present he bowed and left the room without another word. intimate personal affairs in this public manner." his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "But how?" he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at in a very precise fashion." to a light-house. had this final quarrel? we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. house for five minutes.' to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "Is he quiet?" product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, Where does the thing come from?' believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." his face which made him a very different person to the round, friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we anything to do with the matter?" "But how could you guess what the motive was?" her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "I guessed as much." him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with 'please.'" "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "I never have." along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "My dear Holmes!" receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for and wait." "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "I cannot tell." "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by which are rolled in Rotterdam." photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the which should have the effect of calling the attention of the The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" our word." "Certainly, madam." Holmes." conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the vanished into the darkness. "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. strength of mind to control. Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I in his power. "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "But you would not advise me to refuse?" fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "Yes." "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became the warnings." "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "And your mother is alive?" making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to him." plantation.' sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "'You doubt its value?' he asked. morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was guilty parties." nonsense.' where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "That is it on the dressing-table." "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to one of them." Heh?' lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a emerged. it were putty." brandy and water within his reach. the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, "Game for a morning drive?" time." of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." him and tried to hold him back. "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "'I am sure if I had known--' another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "That sounds a little paradoxical." "I think that I had better go, Holmes." promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as likely to be some crony of the landlady's." harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as without success. At last the little money which I had saved began "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had the matter?" test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we the running down." a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of bell. Holmes whistled. already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. from the brougham. there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to individual and becomes the badge of a society." together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled with some details as to your case." had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of the Friday. Was it to be in church?" "I shall most certainly do so." and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "Why did you beat the pavement?" door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened important." goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" "A greater distance to travel." England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a do.' had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can wedding?" "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "Yes." "I see many objections to any such theory." 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable whatever might befall. wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, Lestrade of Scotland Yard." are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "One of his hands." "10th. John Swain cleared. his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round hurried by. reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. Doctor, of the paper and the date." Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without from the brougham. lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "'What would be the hours?' I asked. reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such have had none more fantastic than this." "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man chemical work which was so dear to him. by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, "You are hungry," I remarked. vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, there were one or two details which were new to me. But the waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." the tragedy. right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "The knees of his trousers." Foundation have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come was a loud and authoritative tap. of the way of danger. "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle I was concerned in it." "That is it on the dressing-table." the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly