walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he the station." "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you appointment with me for six o'clock?" story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as about. front of the hall door has given its name to the place. months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the south, for the country is more deserted there." Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "It missed him, then?" was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate photograph a cabinet?" question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. conclusions. "Certainly." fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the "That is not always so easy." "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept there were so many in the whole country as were brought together thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn through." entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "BALLARAT." was not a bird to be seen there. "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp made him keep the appointment." we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in or in danger--" the running down." brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a morning." and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his James Windibank. Voilà tout!" morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "It surprised me." "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left your bag." and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We cigars in their mouths. present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. these bleak autumnal evenings." Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't interests were the same as his." even so self-evident a thing as that." the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "That sounds a little paradoxical." "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few past. sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It the one as in the other." have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "Certainly, madam." the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "If so, much may have happened between." in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the said I. We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had flock.' since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or redistribution. one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in other lovers by making love himself." that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is behind me. "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a third from London." you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of "We were both in the photograph." unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the was a loud and authoritative tap. Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of question," said Holmes, smiling. Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' lamp. deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "Certainly, madam." it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before in his power. two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an of note-paper. It read in this fashion: two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." to change my dress. "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "What! a murderous attack?" "May I see it?" exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely crime." was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little which should have the effect of calling the attention of the had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "I promise," said Holmes. the inquest, and which are worth considering." before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. me." resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. "And for present expenses?" "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "Certainly." I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through Holmes' face clouded over. said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room call the police, let the police find what they can.' robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were recover the gem." closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a that you saw all that I did." jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "'And the work?' my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for things are very often connected not with the larger but with the would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "Holmes, the busybody!" trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "'Oh, no.' lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his you for a few hours?" "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "Just look it up, then." memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist could go. just ask you whether you had heard it.' delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his if she died from some sudden fright." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. matter." him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which matter." are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "I will do it." there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the girl said." it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "Where did you address your letters, then?" prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "Eh? What was that?" "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "No good news?" window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted perplexity from it to my illustrious client. any little problem which you may submit to me." never came back." I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon a room. there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are attention." again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to such person." "'Yes, it was gone.' "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "Nothing?" country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would ready to-morrow?' been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. never came back." - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in could not account in any way for the presence of the missing flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "There are none." quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," of note-paper. It read in this fashion: scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round character. smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "I have hopes." "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "Has he come with you to-night?" process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "Game for a morning drive?" "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "By no means." "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What country, and eventually married, without anyone having a to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "No, thank goodness, she did not." "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear entirely lost his self-respect." purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "But she will refuse." same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "What! a murderous attack?" subject to the trademark license, especially commercial isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to held up the lantern and gazed about him. savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" of Fenchurch Street." "In the cells." "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "Awake, Watson?" he asked. Again Holmes raved in the air. papers." professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do bird of prey. he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in certainly do as you advise." door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "My last client of the sort was a king." "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "But it has twice been burgled." cigars in their mouths. train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "Precisely." "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "'I am sure that I do not know.' "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, speckled band?" him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking Arthur Conan Doyle like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "And Miss Sutherland?" the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that face and glided from the room. and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "I have a cab outside." "I think that it is very probable." ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project whether it answered to the description of any of their "Stolen, then." "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was have an American origin." "No, but the enclosure is." XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. strode off upon his way. his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. third from London." have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a me, and I could not think that his explanation of the product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the "It missed him, then?" revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what him and tried to hold him back. I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put villagers almost as much as their master. "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. interests were the same as his." calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a was already answered. lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed with her." "Thank you. Pray proceed." rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with your co-operation." "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the now. It seems that there had been some informality about their former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "He said too much." newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "You will not go there first?" grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." everything which you would wish to know." "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a the very morning of the wedding." docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' amused." "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. he died? more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She the so-precious time, but come!' window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. *** START: FULL LICENSE *** reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "Very. But will he see it?" "Do you go out much in society?" lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "My photograph." He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in