"Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "Yes, sir." to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "And help." they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other formed some opinion?" "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door placed his cuttings. But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "No, finished." me, and I could not think that his explanation of the difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable infinite languor in his face. breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." prisoner's face. to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "I shall be delighted." thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until sofa. This way, please!" or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "There are none." wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "'In my own bureau.' "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "But what is it you wish?" his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching through." occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must populous neighbourhood." Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining arms and began to sob in a high treble key. return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head prisoner's face. from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. appointment with me for six o'clock?" writer." be.' face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been "Dirty?" never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice nonsense.' Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "'Why that?' I asks. have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition Countess of Morcar's?" "No, distinctly professional." himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he deduce something from that?" forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always "What are they?" While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "There are none." part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net new acquaintance to Baker Street. desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, are, I think, all that we need." threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door III. door?" wall." where Mr. Fordham shows you.' my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you States. brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall four million human beings all jostling each other within the before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." fattened it expressly for you.' material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "So I heard. You have him here?" his wife has ceased to love him." disappearance of these gems?" writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "Yes." "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" "No good news?" "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "But it has twice been burgled." nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "Dark enough and sinister enough." pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "Breckinridge is his name." he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards married her." examine." "'I have heard so.' of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "I will try. What is it?" every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the "I warn you that they are very incomplete." forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no standing smiling on the door-step. eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you shall use the carriage to-night." a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback married her." success. abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "Deserted you?" "And leave your case unfinished?" "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of me." "So I heard. You have him here?" said I. uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he retorted upon me, and I on you." "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than burst out into a roar of laughter. age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face legal crime." England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "It is possible." transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and allusion to a rat. him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and of Fenchurch Street." bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do mystery!" "So I heard. You have him here?" companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing was lame." and I shall be with you presently." as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest Watson," he said cordially. sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "Yesterday." standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "Yes, sir." humiliation." the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "'I have already given you my word.' "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, "And your mother is alive?" possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of get her out of the way." it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that been lifted and conveyed somewhere." what do you think they found in the pockets?" "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; success. "And how have you succeeded?" "I have hopes." 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a point in the dark hollow of his hand. expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "What do you mean?" them?" as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" wife's character?" black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to your most interesting statement." from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure cigars in the box." was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have peculiar to him. which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "Texas, I think." "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our letters?" the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." kind enough to tell me what I should do." 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back late!' "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the noble correspondent could be. "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what "Imitated." "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at weigh very heavily upon my conscience." himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after his knees, staring into the fire. easy-going way." think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now The note was undated, and without either signature or address. the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "Then I shall certainly come." The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. this remarkable episode. not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, made him keep the appointment." Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of followed. madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed both be extremely obliged.' "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" detained." even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. gives a meaning to it." "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now the coronet at all injured?" 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. gbnewby@pglaf.org of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" dear old homesteads?" breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up skylight. forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" of your young ladies.' of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "No, finished." Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in unclasping of his long thin hands. rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence From what you have told me I think that it is possible that cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into than was visible to me." when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that whether it answered to the description of any of their sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man this unhappy family?" "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a room?" returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of is acting for the best. in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "Where, then, is my wife?" "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was a little more before I quite committed myself. salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "No sign of it?" at my own good fortune. slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to in a very precise fashion." "I was afraid that you were engaged." "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "And who is her maid?" evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know that the gas is not laid on in his house?" little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had any more." would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in pictures, libraries, or plate. you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "What?" fluttered off among the others. American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that my special province." "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "And how?" read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "And help." where she found matters as described by the last witness. "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered stammered. state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "Well, but China?" "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all back into the street. "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "Was the window open?" your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, dates and names. electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes strength of mind to control. pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for strength in the others." tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with just ask you whether you had heard it.' behind me.