the morning and make my own way in the world.' arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out plantation.' danger is over." observed. "He said too much." had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "And Irene Adler?" you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." thin, with a long, sharp nose?" astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with brandy and water within his reach. however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of yourselves in at night?" "Yes, only one." "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "You heard nothing yourself last night?" opportunities to fix the problem. note?" to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate feature." a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "In San Francisco, a year ago." "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought forecastle of an emigrant ship. "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. again before evening." "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are highly," said Holmes. "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged words came to my lips. bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at details." of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." prisoner's face. at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" noise which awoke you from your sleep?" "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place was keenly on my guard against him. "Your sister is dead, then?" there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "And the murderer?" although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "My own seal." "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall chance." should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "Has he come with you to-night?" in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to not come at once?" English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." and all of them with the keenest interest. inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." villagers almost as much as their master. about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up License. You must require such a user to return or from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "On your arm?" huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw and that he would see to anything that turned up. unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. all-comprehensive glances. professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may very old mansion. lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "When did it break out?" settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "No." he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms long narrative. something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and singular points about the case. What did the police think of the chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he client, rising. "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got shall use the carriage to-night." inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would done what I asked you, Jones?" knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which vault. from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old James Windibank. Voilà tout!" She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a writer." firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not so far?" shag which I had seen upon the previous night. devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "Pray tell us what has happened to you." drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab intimate personal affairs in this public manner." you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for the very morning of the wedding." veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner in a friendly supper." weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. true." particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are Surrey." "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "What I expected to see." behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your of receipt of the work. said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. made his money." I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which once more. to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "We must sit without light. He would see it through the itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that there in twenty minutes." mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "How did you deduce the select?" "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that man. I know him from the photograph." near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "The Cedars?" appeared upon the scene." of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "And who is her maid?" met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "Tired-looking or fresh?" method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, was keenly on my guard against him. He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "Well, some hundreds of times." sooner or later she must fall a victim. that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more what is your own theory as to what took place?" years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens of this gang." believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was advice." together. his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" developed." his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" that there was nothing in it, after all." more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "But you can know nothing of this?" places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "The landlord of the Alpha." Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "No." through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled "By no means." "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "Did you become engaged then?" side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be tear off another piece?' comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" Dr. Gregory B. Newby more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" present." "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at all?" have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert over with notes and figures. the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He train.' he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, crime. "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the at my remark. sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new that?' McCarthy." and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "But your client--" that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "It may not come to that," said Holmes. finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the something of him before." defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." client, rising. to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "Yes." searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: in the hope of finding them." "What then?" is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action question," said Holmes, smiling. all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. at my own good fortune. but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already the room while you explain this matter?" investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a of the one which your family is now devouring." "No sign of it?" "You will not go there first?" the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "Of Friday, June 19th." Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm like that before?" emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "Ah!" the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might as the one I chose?' upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. electronic works after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong meant." which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." since then to throw any light upon what became of him." http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ some mystery and the punishment of some crime." I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of call for protection in the marriage market, for the present there!' "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I business matters.' Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "Nor running a chance of arrest?" in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his enter into my head. nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "You think so, too?" not use it unless it is absolutely needed." either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will was a perfect sample of the class. whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: comes from the middle window." "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It your Highness to the police-station?" morning." deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the the so-precious time, but come!' association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the shoulder; "he's all right." "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." really the only notable feature about the thing." she might be summoned. "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, lids now and glanced across at his visitor. his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the me. You must get home instantly and act." "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "I cannot think." which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a answered with a sidelong glance. been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, green of the new foliage. was lame." means taking possession of that which another person has a prior yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have read over the extraordinary announcement. upon the shelf for the interim." eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "When did it break out?" had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while carriage. It was a chestnut." but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some taking in every detail of the apartment. until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry "'What, the red-headed man?' "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "I will not look." enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to his grey eyes. sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. to have been novel and of interest." "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "But how?" imbecility!" he cried. pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the