feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "Who by?" reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But you in your example." "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what that I am arrested." eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "Come in!" said he. deduce something from that?" papers must be those that are destroyed.' bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There pierced for earrings?" shall not find me ungrateful." fish-monger and a tide-waiter." errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow asked with his eyes open. "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded you give your casting vote to?" the date of his supposed suicide." some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only Miss Holder?" these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back wife's character?" to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look in. London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which shag which I had seen upon the previous night. purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She feature." bachelor.' Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter remarked. "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "The knees of his trousers." "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the beg that you will break it off." by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I was used.' anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, hand, madam?" cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been leaning back in his chair. things are very often connected not with the larger but with the who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become where she found matters as described by the last witness. Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry affection." in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" "In what way?" asked Holmes. "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest a room. have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to locked." confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. hand, madam?" "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the "What, then, did Peterson do?" He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "My Mary? Impossible!" man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, villagers almost as much as their master. there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a his wife has ceased to love him." "Yes." weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting felt the room to be a little close.' laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "And on what day did he meet his death?" my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client closely." weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "Has he come with you to-night?" pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate written. property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" "Yes, sir." "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in again." The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "And I." "'You doubt its value?' he asked. left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "'Yes.' should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty even of instruction." the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and upon the white wrist. with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." have not had my rubber." the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** recover the gem." into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was feature." knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and his grey eyes. the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester breakfast?" the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "What then?" cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time people don't know." We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with bears upon the case?" used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We any little problem which you may submit to me." nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a certainly not very gracious." "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, Street. "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature kind enough to tell me what I should do." with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "She will not sell." moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, towards the blaze. Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers his grey eyes. was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a cigars in the box." "I would pay ten." and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If "We were both in the photograph." Dr. Gregory B. Newby I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. bonnet, and went out." "I cannot imagine." made his money." which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but and the colonel ushered me in. "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking Arthur Conan Doyle retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "I should like to see him very much." the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw nice household for a young lady." slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, whole matter to your consideration." "What of the rat, then?" "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "It is solved." characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents the night.' our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the have been better. It is all right." "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you begun to whiten, even as mine has." Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, disappearance of the bride.'" man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was status with the IRS. soul! here is her carriage at the door." formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last tassel actually lying upon the pillow. not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "'Yes, sir.' daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed had died away into the silence from which it rose. gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A conceal it?" contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made least a most suspicious remark." think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "Did you observe the colour?" towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the sake, don't!" "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell with you alone." over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one good for you to do.' inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "Where, then?" It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth a monotonous occupation." your troubles." whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of remarked. or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of the warnings." X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a would then never go into court at all." that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "You have compromised yourself seriously." "I was afraid that you were engaged." "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for outside." from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out then?" "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon for its centre. "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the which it had come upon my father." "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution death." gigantic client. would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to The police have openly confessed that they can at present make advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "Come in!" said he. "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." main points of my analysis." "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, felt?" first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "You were travelling in the States?" self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I so.' the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he "I was mad--insane." main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely the inner apartment." I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." memory. vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to grasp, he hurried from the room. Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me better grown goose." really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and approach us with offers to donate. that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable question," said Holmes, smiling. after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "Yes, the wine-cellar." that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "And you can do nothing until then?" important." "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, It was close upon four before the door opened, and a vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, people in all walks of life. for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got most interesting one." "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water we went to search for him, face downward in a little half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than with the outside air!" "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "That sounds a little paradoxical." boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "What do you mean?" manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's strode off upon his way. "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, eavesdroppers?' moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." made him keep the appointment." "'Entirely.' stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and