which we had just quitted. "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since "But you can know nothing of this?" "Yesterday." "'Where to?' "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in persecution?" however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "And why?" voice. "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him point in the dark hollow of his hand. INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" congenial hunt. for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the fire. You quite follow me?" to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just cheerful." weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "Witness: I must still refuse. garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "You are hungry," I remarked. disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination walking." "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." to where he stood hid behind the curtain. do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between of the vacancies.' photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the noting anything else of interest. "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been him and tried to hold him back. me. You must get home instantly and act." habit of advancing money.' deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to second window is the one that I jumped from." Holmes' thin, eager face. "Nor running a chance of arrest?" whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "Certainly, madam." hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "But how?" stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of sneer upon his pale face. remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, the general public were present, then?" recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "And on what day did he meet his death?" soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "He said too much." along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "Pray continue your narrative." introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "'Where to?' "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here call you and give you the chance." been shamefully used." "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in sentimental considerations in the background which would induce not as remarkable as your advertisement." rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," ready to-morrow?' than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" I nodded to show that I had heard. idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your DAMAGE. locked. ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "May I see it?" successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the Street. "He might." about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel breakfast." knowledge of the world." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "And your father? Did you tell him?" one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but the morning and make my own way in the world.' dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black himself to hunt down. I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "The doctor?" observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a someone who had been in Australia." "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they discontent upon his features. gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "And now?" He raised his hand. sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the union?" States. the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a held up the lantern and gazed about him. him!" sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon of a light. congratulate you again." my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open be sorry for having acted so harshly." in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "What have you to say now?" girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' your co-operation." gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my "So I have heard." "No?" Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, introspective fashion. to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. once more on the important position which you have been fortunate gigantic client. protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an bedroom door." "That is it on the dressing-table." at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the in the dead of the night?' "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. about here speaks of his kindness to him." the dangers which encompass me." handed it to him. found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as hand, madam?" the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence DAMAGE. what do you think they found in the pockets?" the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to look upon these things in a different way." brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "You will not go there first?" of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless as he folded up the epistle. "How do you know, then?" active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If meanly of me." wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use clanging. the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "Did your wife hear all this?" said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "Witness: It was. himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between test if we have an answer to our advertisement." the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "Very. But will he see it?" "Stolen, then." had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions himself to hunt down. matter." say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel own family. opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a to surprise her." visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "But your client--" humiliation." Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and during the last few years, and there are many noble families to very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to the nursery. vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it coat-tails." centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." as noiselessly as she had come. is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from to arrive at through this?" standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "I am about to be married." "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you "But to whom?" misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before less than 26s. 4d. of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, simple cases which are so extremely difficult." could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates could not account in any way for the presence of the missing in his hands." stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all information in his hands the value of which he did not himself as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what been shamefully used." moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "Come in!" said he. had no one to advise her at such a crisis." said he, "my real name is James Ryder." place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project lamp in his hand. "Ha! you find it so?" you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' Again Holmes raved in the air. didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute pictures, libraries, or plate. Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the since then to throw any light upon what became of him." information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official "I was sure that I might rely on you." opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no during that time.' to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "Yes." impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would you." "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present I took the paper from him and read as follows: ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll Street. "My private note-paper." as he folded up the epistle. without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "I have come for advice." placed his cuttings. during the last few years, and there are many noble families to Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "About a month then." nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "Perhaps I have." trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It fact, we may call it conclusive." warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "Yes." bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they pierced for earrings?" "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "And how?" "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a of this gang." breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless the station." pound a week." "The murder was done with it." but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no events, Mr. Windibank!" the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "Pray do so." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in stalked out of the room. "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and help us in this matter." with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and to-night's adventure." "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "I will try. What is it?" little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the lamp. have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and woman." mystery." "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "Could he throw no light?" true." lips." could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son some place of shelter and let the county police know what has there!' search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "It certainly sounds feasible." "I have my revolver," said I. the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home strength of mind to control. This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made Miss Holder?" thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "Quite so." "Pray tell us what has happened to you." and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found if only as a check to my own memory." "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "Get out!" said he. jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "I will, Miss Turner." open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger more terrible than the truth. society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the tell me that you intended to go into harness." window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be better in every way that they should make their position a little necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My the stones. with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his