stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "My dear Holmes!" "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all "And the murderer?" might have a private word with us. "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him habit of advancing money.' the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. look upon these things in a different way." on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to and it need not interfere very much with one's other "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and fishes. "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "There is the writing." I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he me, and I could not think that his explanation of the impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "One of the highest in England." and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "Was the window open?" "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "I cannot tell." address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, to his chemical studies. her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "When did she vanish, then?" over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my affection." "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. observed. morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I over part of the map. "What do you read?" you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned heavy and sharp instrument." walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of some city in a dream. character. "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "I guessed as much." robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic conversation I have gathered that they have been married about Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the and laid it on the table. battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall morning." lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his chill to my heart. "I am in hopes that she does." rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "You are certainly joking, Holmes." whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for as he folded up the epistle. know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have God! What an exposure! What can I do?" could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "Murdered?" 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings the side-table." His name is Francis Prosper." "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this go--none." the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle individual and becomes the badge of a society." and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." any more." with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "And the cigar-holder?" have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was emerged. "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is McCarthy's innocence. sneer upon his pale face. easy-going way." had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you writers could invent nothing more crude." said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the to a more successful conclusion." the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "Dark enough and sinister enough." something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." presented more singular features than that which was associated convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his could not have written that. It is the German who is so have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are James Windibank. Voilà tout!" Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "To an end?" an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "One?" criminal. We have already had experience of such." introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "He said too much." feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the one of them." "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a lamp. "It looks newer than the other things?" "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you name is different." Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "You are all wrong." was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which father's young wife. facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you come either from the window or the door. My attention was one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "What is it, then--a fire?" "I assure you that I am in your hands." fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. "You forget that I know nothing about it." opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to our word." "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head Does that suggest anything?" "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler amused." such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "Certainly." means taking possession of that which another person has a prior caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "Only as much as we can deduce." The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open http://gutenberg.net/license). face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "Then I am your man." over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which forebodings. always that they were such commands as a lady might with the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you wanted for ourselves." tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some mysterious end." on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather the very morning of the wedding." that you can jump it.' walking." narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "Certainly." said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from The events in question occurred in the early days of my the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter discontent upon his features. always that they were such commands as a lady might with sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and giving me time to thank him. dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "Will you bet, then?" Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, might have a private word with us. as he remarks, very much against the son." "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "And for present expenses?" princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "This photograph!" which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce Arthur Conan Doyle "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" house for five minutes.' Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest people don't know." something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "And what did you learn from him?" untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew roused himself from his reverie. "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get introspective fashion. "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as eat it." ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & Arthur Conan Doyle like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were friend's singular character. "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "That also I could fathom." town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "On Monday." upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be way in." behind me. felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged for its centre. closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said once more to my work. By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying His name is Francis Prosper." back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as bird I ate is country bred." "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the have been better. It is all right." have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." begun to whiten, even as mine has." "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "Can I be of assistance?" "What will you do, then?" "'You doubt its value?' he asked. but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to went to the Alpha were town bred." "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction she has been waylaid. There has been no result." of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his them present such singular features as the strange train of the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of the coronet at all injured?" an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a hereditary King of Bohemia." what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of little adventures." cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was would then never go into court at all." low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "The rest you will leave in our hands." "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she to-night?" I asked. enough to aid us in our search." than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "What then?" clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "Quite so. She has her freedom." "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our do.' "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was shoulder. I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' deduce something from that?" product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger soul! here is her carriage at the door." not, dad?" she asked. I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him the coroner come to?" you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our the night.' chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold sparkled upon his finger. you in yours." "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "What do you make of that, Watson?" held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring very old mansion. how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "In what way?" asked Holmes. the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan awaited us upon the table. the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity asked. society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was whereabouts. suggested at once that there must be a communication between the also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in over his head with a sweet womanly caress. the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and down from London to inquire more deeply into it." Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "But what is it you wish?" and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "What then?" "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "Yes, they were peculiar boots." of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face,