Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "And is that all?" "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "No. His orders were to stay in the house." be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you again." See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You 11:15.' my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "Perhaps I have." spare." "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "Tired-looking or fresh?" like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, golden eyeglasses. that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "'Tell me all about it,' said I. bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "But I am all in the dark." with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let very peculiar words of the dying woman?" the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone plantation.' make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer tied." is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. stammered. itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "9th. McCauley cleared. "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and status with the IRS. thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "You have a clue?" red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "Absolutely?" drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "'I am sure that I do not know.' and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "It goes to the housekeeper's room." is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my comes from the middle window." have been better. It is all right." "What, then?" possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. me upon any point which I do not make clear." arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as not come at once?" to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "Quite so." know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your followed. twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "It came here." "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and with frightened eyes at his accuser. gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the indiscretion." weary and pale-looking. One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker Dr. Gregory B. Newby us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. if I call to-morrow?" lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to know all about it," he snarled. shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we weighed down with some great anxiety. the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "What is it?" I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "If I can be of use." twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "I was certainly surprised to find you there." business at Coburg Square is serious." was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "It is true that I have been generally successful." this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. 11:15.' burst out into a roar of laughter. to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of do.' "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works father's place of business?" that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a furiously. gives a meaning to it." assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an think you a quite exceptional woman." here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "I saw her in conversation with her maid." refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing occurred." its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "Really! You surprise me." could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a gone. settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." into her hand at the door and which lured her within their see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. the matter?" "BALLARAT." "I shall be delighted." pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "But what is it you wish?" took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "I see no marks." train from Paddington which would bring you there at about should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried go--none." petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "I cannot imagine." more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "The decline of his fortunes, then?" notes," he said. "It is solved." grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass the warnings." "It is no ordinary one." upon an income of about 60 pounds." that you wished to speak to me?' delirious. Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "It's nothing of the kind." "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "The knees of his trousers." quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "'Oh, no.' looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. village inn over there?" enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what http://gutenberg.net/license). material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given the house with me." the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the gone. "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the Holmes rather sternly. dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner thought that she would have been so carried away." "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the my room." examine." from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." up this clue while it is still hot." cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." system of imprisonment?" customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "I don't say that. Perhaps." the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "'And what salary do you ask?' woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "No more words. Get out!" "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to details should find their way into the papers. Inspector moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I are windows in it, of course?" "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "Holmes, the busybody!" waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, to have been novel and of interest." who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I outbreak?" appointment with me for six o'clock?" "'A dozen yards or so.' been." little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of wall." "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' the bed, and you in that chair." carried out of court." regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some gone. style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. and I shall be with you presently." "Nothing." clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap this as likely?" as noiselessly as she had come. "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" one of them." "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against during the last few years, and there are many noble families to There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "Witness: It was. "From his hat?" he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." from the brougham. "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. obstinate." 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right ill-usage at the hands of fortune. His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw delighted to hear it," he said. glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the front of the hall door has given its name to the place. roused himself from his reverie. This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to what is your own theory as to what took place?" consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as constraint." "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." girl said." which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet was a perfect sample of the class. papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what on re-entering her father's house?" disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." lectures into a series of tales." carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but said he. red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the 1.F. "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, But Holmes shook his head gravely. low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "I think it very unlikely." Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook Holmes' face clouded over. McCarthy." heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "Pray do so." from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An villagers almost as much as their master. threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family away in different directions, and I went off to make my own address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have to-night." loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce to where he stood hid behind the curtain. his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a works. See paragraph 1.E below. "It is possible." heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "'There is a drive, then?' was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. matter over." and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "How did you deduce the select?" "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank to-morrow." should be so warm over such a trifle." "There are none." town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too confronted him. "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who is worth.' years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." quickly through a disagreeable task. again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. with the outside air!" very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had of your young ladies.' was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "You forget that I know nothing about it." the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "'I have already given you my word.' her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "I fear not." girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I Street. "I would give my fortune to have them back." answered with a sidelong glance. some city in a dream. But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those crackling voice. is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "You know me, then?" "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the 11:15.' trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a photograph?" wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. up this clue while it is still hot." have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of joking. of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "By all means." leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "It was an hour's good drive." "What steps will you take?" I asked. England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be