"I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that front of me. "To an end?" observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes hopeless attempt at recovering them." Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One was a lad." widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, as he remarks, very much against the son." he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in main points of my analysis." the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been asked with his eyes open. fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. that you can jump it.' appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "What will you do, then?" his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "I shall be delighted." Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall in one or two places in England?' upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the a very grave face. this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in of." and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the six. Come in!" rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "Whose house is it?" "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "Bought." named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. The note was undated, and without either signature or address. permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in said Mr. Holder. Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies "Why, it's a dummy," said he. III. "'You cannot say what it was?' charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a grasp, he hurried from the room. "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "'I have already given you my word.' Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I definite end. way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "Why, what do you mean?" no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the 1.E.9. "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "What! Had he lost his wife?" ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural papers on the sundial.'" house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a examination of the premises, but without finding anything which expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the "No, thank goodness, she did not." have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black was feeling which was the fattest.' the nursery. mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then for and were ordered to this address. in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "Of what day?" settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with spark where all is dark to me." up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "He is dead," cried several voices. "And why?" we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless IS the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it said he. very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "If I can be of use." present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural "And how did you verify them?" - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies newspaper selections." on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the taking in every detail of the apartment. examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. over with notes and figures. down in his armchair and closing his eyes. butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I everything which you would wish to know." furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I companion. "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a ran thus: equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little telegram would bring me down to your help." window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" before the coroner and the police-court." all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about ceremony." the Assizes." to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek will he say when he returns?" swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "How did you trace it, then?" "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his absolutely follow my advice in every respect." the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old became a certainty. opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his best detective that ever lived. doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird "I cannot say that I have." "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been shoulder. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can answered with a sidelong glance. explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "Then, how do you know?" son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured future lives." "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence to have that photograph." late." Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, the station." There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for the ceiling. already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment south, for the country is more deserted there." "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' keep the flames under. which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were Pope's Court. sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny any little problem which you may submit to me." new acquaintance to Baker Street. only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "9th. McCauley cleared. of note-paper. It read in this fashion: into her hand at the door and which lured her within their or other trace. But how on earth--" to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "Will you bet, then?" "Game for a morning drive?" as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his that, and I came down." keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' have been better. It is all right." ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was have I gained?" "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. all-comprehensive glances. case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "Which surely he restored to their owner?" recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "One of his hands." Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of matter." "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and populous neighbourhood." "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. that, and I came down." home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in golden eyeglasses. it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to it." plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. case-book, which he consulted. "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge new duties?' "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of chemical work which was so dear to him. a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "And what then?" you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence soul! here is her carriage at the door." Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "Yes." "Witness: Nothing definite. outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him I nodded to show that I had heard. branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "It was." perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the problems help me to do so." very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of yourselves in at night?" appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and your own bird, so if you wish--" considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "Pray continue your narrative." that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." garden below. stalked out of the room. whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and tension within him. observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a indeed which he could not unravel. It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "'What would be the hours?' I asked. and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "I should wish to." entirely lost his self-respect." between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "No more words. Get out!" customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." room. disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in never to learn it at all." who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." "And is that all?" "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "I am to be neutral?" swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" behind me. who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the fluttered off among the others. you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her to have been novel and of interest." case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime not personally threatened." King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "By all means." used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." at once, for I have only half an hour." through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "How did he come?" little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "What can you not understand?" surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "Here?" the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence the station." our word." spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they felt the room to be a little close.' "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "Not in the least." some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the some place of shelter and let the county police know what has deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and money should be paid at once.' ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "Really! You surprise me." It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend already referred to. he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced in your London, you will know that the office of the company is there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "You heard nothing yourself last night?" know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to head. So long, then!" "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. showing my impatience. the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his point our research must commence, and we will begin it by rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "That was it, sir." saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and humiliation." you." considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out golden eyeglasses. the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire union?" company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests.