I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his money should be paid at once.' the morning and make my own way in the world.' is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional despair." should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is look dissatisfied." with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and relief. read it out to me." other means.' present." it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "Then you may be so with me." money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the his fortune, and I went back to pa. traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" thought that she would have been so carried away." size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have know what is wrong with it.' glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "Then, how do you know?" "Of Friday, June 19th." hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in distance from the station, and there we found the young lady and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day heavy and sharp instrument." Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "'Certainly,' I answered. and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations power." Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, Pool. and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "He might." be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to been anything against him. He had for years been known as a the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight children over to America with him, so that I found myself without corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "And who is her maid?" "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, Doctor, of the paper and the date." into her hand at the door and which lured her within their of Fenchurch Street." acquaintance?" at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been photograph?" enter Dr. Roylott's room." father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and outbreak?" she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself might help us?" has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were I approached. is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "But who is he?" The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on without success. At last the little money which I had saved began bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were once more to my work. at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "Yes, I have one waiting." might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "You have a clue?" "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped me have 200 pounds?' ill-usage at the hands of fortune. last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can question you as to those details which seem to me to be most "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed as this. Pray let me have the details." copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square persecution?" confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked appointment with me for six o'clock?" reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with opened the door, and slipped through. Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "Then you may entirely rely on me." hereditary King of Bohemia." furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "And I to find an enemy." endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "And your father? Did you tell him?" my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other four million human beings all jostling each other within the assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "The knees of his trousers." "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are already referred to. "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I "And Miss Sutherland?" clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "'It is locked up,' I answered. "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air footfalls from the street. "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have straighten it?" and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a Chief Executive and Director forecastle of an emigrant ship. have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was rat could hardly pass through." any." to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "Certainly." allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a conclusions. have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "But of what society?" as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on such attractions and accomplishments?' scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "The knees of his trousers." The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "Proceed, then." went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to place no limit on the sum I may draw." (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, in a very precise fashion." little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social be.' "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "Your presence might be invaluable." long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "And the cigar-holder?" "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from constraint." The King stared at him in amazement. home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said "I fear not." do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his the very letters. But what is this written above them?' exactly what you advise." place of silver." Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you call it cruel." always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek at a side door. which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." you." moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, enter into my head. "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I astonishment. "The knees of his trousers." "Always." "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done ago." at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "What is it, then--a fire?" which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly disappearance of the bride.'" through." with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch sofa. This way, please!" the warnings." hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "You are all wrong." and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman interests were the same as his." the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking indeed happy." "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, have I gained?" "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been children over to America with him, so that I found myself without scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." even so self-evident a thing as that." in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "How do you know, then?" the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "Has he come with you to-night?" counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard and no precautions can guard against." 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and one's self under obligations.' better grown goose." groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "I say it is." unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and round with crates and massive boxes. with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it "It was." It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried closely." in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "In the cells." impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic gentleman's clothes. its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed indeed which he could not unravel. Mary, has deserted me." mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "How long did she speak to this Alice?" twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "Stolen." peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "Proceed, then." This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy always that they were such commands as a lady might with but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not desk. hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we despaired of." age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view information in his hands the value of which he did not himself have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and During two years I have had three consultations and one small Eyford." "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was to a light-house. naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "We must sit without light. He would see it through the and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But drawing your inferences." and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make sake, don't!" than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "Certainly, madam." something of him before." and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "The knees of his trousers." was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "It was an hour's good drive." "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from vault. "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, fuss that is made over them." "My photograph." "The best possible." up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to present." departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public Sutherland?" them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same it." "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial the coronet at all injured?" beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "Will you bet, then?" of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body joking. "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "The doctor?" and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man villagers almost as much as their master. "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I was the fact that his father should, according to his account, when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. room had already been engaged for us. minor matters until to-morrow." "And how did you verify them?" "VIOLET HUNTER." customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "One horse?" interjected Holmes. along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey already been minutely examined." "And sit in the dark?" Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "Ha! you find it so?" that?' to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar