"'You doubt its value?' he asked. "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the DISSOLVED. other lovers by making love himself." them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found on in his house." "And leave your case unfinished?" the dangers which encompass me." at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love think that any burglar could have done. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned outsides of the windows. enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that points in connection with it which never have been, and probably "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "I cannot think." the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting once more for Briony Lodge. drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "'In my own bureau.' "I say it is." "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, Again Holmes raved in the air. business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "Game for a morning drive?" feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal outsides of the windows. least a fellow-countryman. "Awake, Watson?" he asked. points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than compunction about shooting them down." noting anything else of interest. is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying go--none." "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have to tackle the facts." pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were IS returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "Seven!" I answered. "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "'Yes, it was gone.' call for it in person on Monday morning.' "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "Absolutely?" beyond words. known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond returned to France?" cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "You were travelling in the States?" Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "I know where it is." rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You seem to you to be relevant or not." exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in reach." and the church but not where the lady lived." matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "What do you make of that, Watson?" be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "Then how many are there?" narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year even of instruction." room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "Very much so." ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "Come in!" said he. searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the done what I asked you, Jones?" deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. directors have had misgivings upon the subject." he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "His face fell immediately. overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a depend upon your compliance." on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his the nursery. drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his he died? a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "But to whom?" similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and opportunities to fix the problem. "About a month then." 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He the very morning of the wedding." James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get seen the man in the road." do.' America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, room had already been engaged for us. I think that I could be of assistance to you." whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It matter." Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them to affect your life." problems help me to do so." counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always The King stared at him in amazement. seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "It is true that I have been generally successful." such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which "'Yes, sir.' running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who simple cases which are so extremely difficult." Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, 1.E.9. had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he to tackle the facts." "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream charged with?" kindly on the shoulder. emerged. find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the married her." seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from grasp, he hurried from the room. reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "'What do you call purely nominal?' narrative." "Why, what do you mean?" after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. province." "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "We have tried and failed." power." acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" the child." it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "So I have heard." "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are confronted him. had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great said I. looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought whole matter to your consideration." despaired of." could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "What can it mean?" I gasped. is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he events than those which have happened in my own family." annoyance, but no jest. springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." interest. They are important, you understand, without being gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an your equipment. upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the one which it was hard to resist. the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from occurred." "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "Yes, he did." "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so October 9, 1890. About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with the roots. seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "But she will refuse." "Yes. He waved his hands." over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. tail." knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "I do." dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his a good hundred miles off by now." reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "On the contrary, this is the right side." "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him recall any case within my experience which looked at the first were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at that engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, woven round him. neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of do.' face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes it." expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. But Holmes shook his head gravely. dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a results." sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the business?" rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, believe that I should never have any practice at all. "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been and all of them with the keenest interest. however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but "You'll never persuade me to believe that." was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that have I gained?" already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed one of the states of the Union." For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy keep the flames under. speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to derbies." Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. hour." her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the go back?" "On the contrary, this is the right side." "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third asked. drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had as this. Pray let me have the details." The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal your room." "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon fact, we may call it conclusive." have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That of his shoulders. strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "None." to talk it over. and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door into the bag, and made for the door. my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall too. through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all "This photograph!" that I may have something better before very many minutes are "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes his fortune, and I went back to pa. his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small my friend's incisive reasoning. other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and in your London, you will know that the office of the company is although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm important." "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "And how did you find out?" railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems second." Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "Then I am your man." "But he might be a bachelor." see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that some terrible trap for her." in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." I held the little printed slip to the light. "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary death." safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "I cannot imagine." his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the The summons was a brief and urgent one. order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss down in his armchair and closing his eyes. the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "Certainly." finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am presume?" nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out strength of mind to control. '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both of." Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm Holmes' face clouded over. of." rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment.