logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike had picked up in the wood. to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ my little problems." think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "But to whom?" "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting good-night and bustled off upon her way. girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the few hundred pounds.' make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "Of what?" that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round felt?" in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' "When did it break out?" "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official more solid." order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "What are they?" "Will you go?" gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the daring than any effort of the imagination." "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, me where it went to?" became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "Nothing." frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to client, rising. to talk it over. favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily danger is over." he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "My opinion is in no way altered." brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is "Yes, sir." fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "What then?" "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and "Quite so. She has her freedom." "No, finished." something of him before." "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an there has been an enclosure here!" while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me have I gained?" kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to Eyford." Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and suggested at once that there must be a communication between the call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "Never." "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return to-night?" I asked. The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a matter." "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." the running down." elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his this as likely?" "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on leaning back in his chair. presented which may be striking and bizarre without being Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "You horrify me." sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and and put his glass in his pocket. your room." Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his orange pips. "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a advice." "I do." "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "Witness: Nothing definite. Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "Ample." "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, me have 200 pounds?' I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. gone. England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "He said that you could solve anything." Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "'Stolen!' he cried. whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out he. which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than unkempt, staring out at me. the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from enter into my head. salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small telegram would bring me down to your help." of the one which your family is now devouring." corner of the building. pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can October 9, 1890. to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "So I am. Very much so." for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. bedroom door." days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up placed his cuttings. "On Monday." recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn out." down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done despaired of." opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "Never." slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed "Why serious?" "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "Where to?" "The best possible." "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to the running down." "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the reach." the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which mystery may be cleared along those lines." as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "If I can be of use." "What will you say?" clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "There are none." course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." that I am arrested." does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable friends, not even his own brother. License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an outbreak?" half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "Get out!" said he. eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the second window is the one that I jumped from." All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in better grown goose." slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "Frequently." to his chemical studies. moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "The Cedars?" "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers Doctor, of the paper and the date." companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped might have a private word with us. panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, answered with a sidelong glance. unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "A client, then?" I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "'Where could I find him?' spare." Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "I never have." it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." them?" which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. Foundation keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see have one." the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did seven miles from Eyford Station.' "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and "You forget that I know nothing about it." than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "And your mother is alive?" room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "Not in the least." "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of pity, because in other respects you would really have done very all-comprehensive glances. to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them subject to the trademark license, especially commercial younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "'What are you doing there?' he asked. during the last few years, and there are many noble families to Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in official police." has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." of Fenchurch Street." The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." do.' "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently this Miss Turner." difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from late!' rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, in. "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father and that he would see to anything that turned up. away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping late!' "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to invisible to me," I remarked. set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "The decline of his fortunes, then?" receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying characteristics, but those are the more obvious." Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to fled together." "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would You can understand that this register and diary may implicate other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague me upon any point which I do not make clear." Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' awaited us upon the table. the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building and your relations to her." "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "I would pay ten." formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to coat-tails." "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "'Never.' you, my dear young lady?' 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" do.' for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a man. to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "No, thank goodness, she did not." the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer Cross for the Continent." of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "I see many objections to any such theory." husband's writing, madam." "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the trifles." rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards official police." however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "You saw the ventilator, too?" thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet already been minutely examined." to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "Absolutely?" "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "Where, then, is my wife?" have an American origin." time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and of a light. terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his a few minutes he said that it would be all right. her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed Literary Archive Foundation black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said think that he is innocent?" actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? the side-table." to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had the one as in the other." deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly