been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of seem to you to be relevant or not." It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the his cane at the bell-pull. arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get some city in a dream. "Yes, that is the Crown." "'Never,' said I. "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do extraordinary contortions. "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, mysterious business." He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "Very murderous indeed." cigars in their mouths. Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to floor. "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "VIOLET HUNTER." His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the foot. rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms fled together." waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the was used.' "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands "Because he was handy and would come cheap." every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then train.' for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your leaning back in his chair. let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" nights." "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "Always." "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting name is different." set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she opportunities to fix the problem. think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross stalked out of the room. suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "Precisely." discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my guilty one." mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was information in his hands the value of which he did not himself to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" ran thus: "'Certainly not. But why?' workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all recover the gem." reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." third from London." shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I some city in a dream. has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective through." black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to matters immensely." presented more singular features than that which was associated The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat been deceived." "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, little adventures." interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "It's nothing of the kind." "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were shall use the carriage to-night." retorted upon me, and I on you." your own bird, so if you wish--" Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond right! Sit down and let us talk it over." younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia skylight. Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "But we can't all be." still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to Stoke Moran." was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," "It is possible." "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present particular state visit http://pglaf.org and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." Leadenhall Street--and--" from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "The best possible." "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then soul! here is her carriage at the door." instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." laugh and put his lips to my ear. "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until burst into a hearty fit of laughter. so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "Do you know him?" several quiet little villages up there." "I see no marks." over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "Very well, sir. And this stone?" intimate personal affairs in this public manner." the child." inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after lost his Christmas dinner." frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. "And how did you verify them?" own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "No." "No." own family. remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "That was it, sir." going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at Holmes' thin, eager face. leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "'Most admirably.' "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two then?" of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence what do you think they found in the pockets?" "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." more terrible than the truth. explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the upon a handsome competence. "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what chemical work which was so dear to him. "And now?" He raised his hand. slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." electronic works takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "And why in hopes?" 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with do." dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally towards the blaze. ways including including checks, online payments and credit card even of instruction." "And why in hopes?" shall not find me ungrateful." room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, to-night?" I asked. tapping his fingers upon the table. trifles." corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have "Do you go out much in society?" would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" persecution?" "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you cigars in their mouths. "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply always that they were such commands as a lady might with "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. ill-usage at the hands of fortune. bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand indeed which he could not unravel. me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "What do you make of that, Watson?" a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." beyond words. I approached. happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her in. same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "'Yes, sir.' the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all I was concerned in it." carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and man. over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my do.' "And when will you call?" "That is unusual in a young girl." expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "Where, then?" Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could on re-entering her father's house?" from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he could gather together that I was able to avert another public Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning Lee, in the county of Kent." this as likely?" his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." of his shoulders. at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." weary and pale-looking. you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very past. "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, infinite languor in his face. and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "What do you make of that, Watson?" "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "'In my own bureau.' "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a residence of the great financier. Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "Breckinridge is his name." "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, derbies." upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "'Not at all. I only doubt--' year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. must be when I saw the door open.' be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day weigh very heavily upon my conscience." father's place of business?" 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys may have an influence upon European history." that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "Where, then?" heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and forbidden door. his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "'Ten to two.' place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her meanly of me." The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average cost them two and thirty pounds." panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." the Red-headed League." ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had "In heaven's name, what for?" accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification observed. "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed salesman. in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "My last client of the sort was a king." pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "Witness: I must still refuse. state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "What is it?" unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent wedding?" nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a bill, which interests me deeply." room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King you want, then?' combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "You have carte blanche." and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm status with the IRS. "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "I know where it is." years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife had a long day." sooner or later she must fall a victim. conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or the salesman. violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the because she had spent so short a time in this country that she gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, chambers. at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have delighted to hear it," he said. reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check once more. such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "A confidential servant?" carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which rose-bushes. however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and