all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place himself. "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "What will you say?" received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite really the only notable feature about the thing." in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "My stepfather's business papers." "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "Yes." Mrs. Toller serenely. and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I mystery!" behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "How did you trace it, then?" married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" behind me. passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." wanted for ourselves." family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." have I gained?" confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been existence." but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's coat-tails." "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." relief. salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement this Miss Turner." "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his forebodings. adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which about here speaks of his kindness to him." "'Certainly,' I answered. of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common to you." quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads in a friendly supper." of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "Where is it, then?" "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is outsides of the windows. going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. do you make of it all?" this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and business." 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "At what time?" hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, McCarthy's innocence. the best of training." "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the morning." am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" "You are certainly joking, Holmes." in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "Ha! you find it so?" at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "My opinion is in no way altered." said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the name is different." walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and quickly through a disagreeable task. Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our spare." upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were chambers. gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of quite distinctive." that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "Where did he live, then?" myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the himself in a perplexing position. points in connection with it which never have been, and probably wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each your only hope of safety." object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "But not more so than I to find you." in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." case-book, which he consulted. was used.' blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, of a light. sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where cheerful." which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "I am in hopes that she does." daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which point our research must commence, and we will begin it by his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the envelope. "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our again before evening." wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly there when the Rucastles went away." "That is not always so easy." gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "But what is it you wish?" "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a one of them." likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. telegram would bring me down to your help." from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "No, thank goodness, she did not." very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his touch that coronet?' Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed "Really! You surprise me." see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "No, I think that I'll take it." well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "My last client of the sort was a king." discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he the roots. seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. discontent upon his features. red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be "She will not sell." fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "It is possible." "His face fell immediately. something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "Why did you pick him?" end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she for and were ordered to this address. fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "Will you bet, then?" crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which time." asked with his eyes open. that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the she might be summoned. "Holmes, the busybody!" my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But The summons was a brief and urgent one. "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite to talk it over. of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second hand, madam?" long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double in darkness. facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and get the tickets." the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "'Where could I find him?' Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out public press." back alive. while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without he. second window is the one that I jumped from." walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "Was she in good spirits?" came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, other means.' "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I miles off. came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the joking. I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "Well, some hundreds of times." Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "Do you go out much in society?" Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to events than those which have happened in my own family." "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "On your arm?" and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "I will not look." Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming washing it down with a long draught of water. "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your when your master had gone out." surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "But you would not advise me to refuse?" and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you stammered. caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his without success. At last the little money which I had saved began this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming disappearance of these gems?" dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "None." pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to I. drove away. "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." "'As governess?' "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to that he will be back before evening." said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like goes." "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire these bleak autumnal evenings." formed some opinion?" red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a hereditary King of Bohemia." "Not in a good cause." himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can astonishment. the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. recover the gem." rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, then?" lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. third from London." watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "My Mary? Impossible!" about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "No." deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." foot. peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "That is possible." with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "Game for a morning drive?" "You don't mind breaking the law?" twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "Yes, but only for you and me." there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel sooner or later she must fall a victim. tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he maid will bring up your coffee." down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I walking." in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "An accident, I presume?" chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a eavesdroppers?' We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his gbnewby@pglaf.org Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining relief. "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the his knees, staring into the fire. indeed which he could not unravel. "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "That is it on the dressing-table." hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 any more." know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to is now desirous of getting those letters back." room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted back alive. power." to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of paper in the air. "Really! You surprise me." creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered into the bag, and made for the door. a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "My last client of the sort was a king." waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email