with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "You were travelling in the States?" when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which begin with, and I had not got mine yet." into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. come either from the window or the door. My attention was which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a few hundred pounds.' maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought knowledge of the world." "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "You have the photograph?" "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of off." usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after October 9, 1890. greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a redistribution. bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to kindly on the shoulder. fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for newspaper selections." moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "'Tell me all about it,' said I. half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he of the vacancies.' carpenter." instincts rose up against that laugh. had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her him and tried to hold him back. assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say Eyford." know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, she used." It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock daring than any effort of the imagination." prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and four million human beings all jostling each other within the doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I the coroner come to?" sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep fait accompli?" sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my begin with, and I had not got mine yet." had a long day." distance from the station, and there we found the young lady sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with good-night and bustled off upon her way. public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special the very morning of the wedding." at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "Oh, yes, easily." nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with your own bird, so if you wish--" your Highness to the police-station?" dear old homesteads?" governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "Yes, the wine-cellar." place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook "You don't mind breaking the law?" is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "What will you say?" it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I must compliment you." clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am that "Very much so." other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had touch that coronet?' he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, already referred to. refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "Do you receive much company?" he asked. the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into "I do." "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush to talk it over. "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the I think that I could be of assistance to you." "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was that you wished to speak to me?' the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself your Highness to the police-station?" "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face following enigmatical notices: and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was fire. You quite follow me?" street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. with you alone." "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "How did that help you?" know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which strength." shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, and it need not interfere very much with one's other the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a open." "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved "The murder was done with it." matter." door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" better in every way that they should make their position a little column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "'Very good.' shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears case-book, which he consulted. be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not happened." frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more him. and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the tightly behind him. "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "ARAT," I read. she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet morning." to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual such attractions and accomplishments?' detective. "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom of the way of danger. sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "Of what day?" "I have seen the police." Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, breakfast?" this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. the King without delay." "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the really the only notable feature about the thing." surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his the loss of it. should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy forebodings. devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS could go. "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies both be extremely obliged.' "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" the stable lane now." "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. "I am to be neutral?" ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a of note-paper. It read in this fashion: warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "And help." address. "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a outside." "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without before the coroner and the police-court." least a most suspicious remark." occupations.' "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a of them has the shutters up.' burst out into a roar of laughter. streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "A greater distance to travel." gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "The knees of his trousers." "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "Where, indeed?" known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your ventilator." too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the 1.E.9. beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, true." She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near held up the lantern and gazed about him. few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a that threaten you." nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "We have tried and failed." present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "'What do you call purely nominal?' Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the constraint." house for five minutes.' and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" "Certainly, madam." "You think so, too?" absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any becomes even more simple." Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and British peeress.'" abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, Does that suggest anything?" profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "Yes. He waved his hands." traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She read it out to me." Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "Will you bet, then?" "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "One of his hands." coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess electronic works At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that go back?" he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, kind enough to tell me what I should do." been with you?" offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and Holmes' face clouded over. "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted in one or two places in England?' "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss October 9, 1890. suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without only touch the interest." array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the retorted upon me, and I on you." could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every colour had been driven from his face. his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a never will be, entirely cleared up. "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, golden eyeglasses. reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any any little problem which you may submit to me." "But his lameness?" "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this the coroner come to?" for and were ordered to this address. usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "You don't mind breaking the law?" soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards."