all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your heavily into it. "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "Whose house is it?" my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. head. So long, then!" The telegram which we eventually received came late one night There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its little trying to do so much typewriting?" paper in the air. maid will bring up your coffee." exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that intrusion of other matters." "Nor running a chance of arrest?" there were so many in the whole country as were brought together man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." "To an end?" must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had place, I think that there is good ground to think that the wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did she used." "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "And Irene Adler?" "An enemy?" fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "Her father is very rich?" can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no hard-headed British jury." paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever there in twenty minutes." very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am IS "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "Will you bet, then?" "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his even so self-evident a thing as that." the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and himself in a perplexing position. floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her were new raised from a basin. the King without delay." brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his true." copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a at home. "The gentleman I describe." hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into with you?" window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "Whose house is it?" quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "'Yes, sir.' hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the sentimental considerations in the background which would induce as this. Pray let me have the details." poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me in a friendly supper." them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "I cannot say that I have." introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "And it is--" and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur answered with a sidelong glance. much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "The knees of his trousers." sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the against a man in the prime of life?" where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with relation between them, and what the object of his repeated and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for corner of the building. "'About the same.' is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was information in his hands the value of which he did not himself patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, to change my dress. The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It is four-and-twenty." time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord "Not I." 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a shall use the carriage to-night." "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "It is possible." 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was lips." the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which was a lad." street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden from the brougham. "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "My dear Holmes!" LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, never came back." uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the where she found matters as described by the last witness. justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before made his money." "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and assist you in forming an opinion." one of them." the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about outsides of the windows. "'Yes, I promise.' THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "That is easily got." hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, friends, not even his own brother. and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I the south-west, I see." "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "It surprised me." quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again promised to bring home. His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "And your mother is alive?" imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking people in all walks of life. over with notes and figures. the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "And why?" "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." the stable lane now." going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took bonnet, and went out." hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "'And what are they worth?' I asked. did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "I know where it is." beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "No." convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, bed dies. Does not that strike you?" from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "Oh, yes, easily." recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and a good hundred miles off by now." was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge always that they were such commands as a lady might with The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, wall." - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "What! You do not mean bodies?" hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "We must have a cab." his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. the window, rose as we entered. 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "Yesterday." like gravel from a pit.' violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to everything which you would wish to know." finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not may have an influence upon European history." it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I door?" which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow in a very precise fashion." followed. safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "It is a murder, then?" that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and colonel looking down at me. style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have "'Certainly not.' "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "By no means." "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "'And the work?' "On the contrary, this is the right side." We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of Project Gutenberg-tm works. utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "Oh, the cause is excellent!" few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house indeed which he could not unravel. there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these to-night." manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "You have a clue?" death." time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere "It was." rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "The vanishing of the lady." way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly "But she could not love him." little trying to do so much typewriting?" What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's persecution?" What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him emerged. essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "'Tell me all about it,' said I. have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and detained." "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with your only hope of safety." which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said States. and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "Well?" astonishment. The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a bled considerably." matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "And you thought he was pulled back?" "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "I was certainly surprised to find you there." heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "Very. But will he see it?" wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me salesman. in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "Ah!" of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but families. Now for the facts. blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." make me his representative both with the servants and with the the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "'What, the red-headed man?' "I will do it." "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a will find little credit to be gained out of this case." devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "Well?" lectures into a series of tales." however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into lectures into a series of tales." "And you don't know his address?" shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "He might." "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own straighten it?" The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a excitement. invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been works. See paragraph 1.E below. part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. and shall probably return to London by the evening train." than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to are windows in it, of course?" the station." home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table and the whole place is in a blaze." Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the cigars in their mouths. "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "It is his hat." "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "'What would be the hours?' I asked. maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, business came to an end." "None." "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "Why, it's a dummy," said he. of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "Here?" charged with?" down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "'Certainly not.' "I will do it." "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could may never be exposed to such a temptation." "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible kindly on the shoulder. "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought