"There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and was used.' you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl it. Holmes." "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "But what harm can there be in that?" what these perils are?" the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it words came to my lips. its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a unkempt, staring out at me. flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel skylight. case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief a monotonous occupation." a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just at home. Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to think that any burglar could have done. 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern of the efforts of the United States government and of the better evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, certainly do as you advise." police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." of Mr. Rucastle's." face and glided from the room. concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "Thank you. And your address?" in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who hair?' "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." there has been an enclosure here!" collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you is now desirous of getting those letters back." front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "You'll never persuade me to believe that." reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away front of the hall door has given its name to the place. I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding became a certainty. sofa. This way, please!" money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." believe that I should never have any practice at all. the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist it. that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that where she found matters as described by the last witness. made him keep the appointment." "Yes, it would be as well." "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his hour." "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "And why?" round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you pity, because in other respects you would really have done very at a side door. "Because he was handy and would come cheap." he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "I never have." bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was off." ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is figure." own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "Certainly." Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "'You cannot say what it was?' We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," humiliation." note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. very peculiar words of the dying woman?" amused." can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated "When did she vanish, then?" train.' woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's all that?" gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "How many? I don't know." other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No You want to know what became of those geese?" A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had "Never." glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that it? Did I buy the geese off you?" gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." most interesting one." himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I went to the Alpha were town bred." "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." despair." man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at bare slabs of marble. "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in what do you think they found in the pockets?" woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must which our visitor detailed to us. "It is very kind of you." as the one I chose?' jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case II. "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked the stones. "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, 1.F. To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a breakfast." "Then I do not see the point." without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an the Red-headed League." should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are III. all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general DISSOLVED. which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "Pray do so." "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. fatally injured? the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the and capable of preserving a secret.' It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was sooner or later she must fall a victim. whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. discontent upon his features. half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity feature." "I am armed." "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "'What, the red-headed man?' "You have carte blanche." secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my handed it to him. your most interesting statement." "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "Pray do so." and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded little trying to do so much typewriting?" secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of out of this horrible affair." to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that and your relations to her." made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and Cross for the Continent." could gather together that I was able to avert another public cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "I am in hopes that she does." was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." relation between them, and what the object of his repeated He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even the coroner come to?" blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight deduce something from that?" should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "'Tell me all about it,' said I. without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in if I call to-morrow?" while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "What then?" fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, ways of our fellow-men." "I came to find a friend." copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon acted in my house last night?" two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot of this gang." and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." coroner's jury." Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." carpenter." "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "Yes." A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you be. "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which London for the present?" which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin one of the states of the Union." tell them apart.' it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "My dear Holmes!" lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "I have my revolver," said I. occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I down. absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were possible that we could bring him back to her? a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "It is possible." stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "A call for help, you thought?" being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: any more." from the brougham. find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I obstinate." would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different retorted upon me, and I on you." slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, look upon these things in a different way." straighten it?" "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." in darkness. you give your casting vote to?" no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "Very. But will he see it?" adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "Of what day?" "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "What shall I do?" with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some disappearance of these gems?" are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "How long did she speak to this Alice?" that I can to serve you." might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind him!" band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had has little to do with my story." work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and one of the states of the Union." the matter." that I may have something better before very many minutes are going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. distinguish the words: "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "What is it?" and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which started for the Temple to see my husband. disappearance of these gems?" been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful ways including including checks, online payments and credit card my secret was safe in his possession. course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my "One of the highest in England." the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "Do you receive much company?" he asked. of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "Witness: I must still refuse. quite distinctive." "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "And on what day did he meet his death?" stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." depend upon my doing so.' all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." foresight and the moral retrogression?" this as likely?" returning from some small jollification and was making his way "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "Will you bet, then?" crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and them?" "'Where to?' "Perfectly so." hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience up this clue while it is still hot." "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "Really! You surprise me." do." running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the acquaintance?" good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out