loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had away into the river." me, and I could not think that his explanation of the "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "'No, I know no one in these parts.' over his head with a sweet womanly caress. keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our one else, I think." must be when I saw the door open.' You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a "Not in the least." began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and you in your example." I. "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "And did you observe any change in her then?" foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "And help." "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "The gentleman I describe." events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me at my remark. quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the daring than any effort of the imagination." wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same question you as to those details which seem to me to be most "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in vanished into the darkness. clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his derbies." pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she will be renamed. "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which I shall communicate with you." inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "'Why that?' I asks. word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "And did you observe any change in her then?" pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered again." confronted him. To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the do.' I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker 1.F. married her." Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "'Yes, sir.' newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And in this note: refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "Do you receive much company?" he asked. an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying business." "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "How often?" permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An there." though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "But who is he?" "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. foresight and the moral retrogression?" "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, look upon these things in a different way." shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass formed some opinion?" Eyford." few hundred pounds.' compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance that I may have something better before very many minutes are analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot lost nothing by them." said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "And Miss Sutherland?" corner of the building. his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to "I have hopes." "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' you in yours." "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this over with notes and figures. minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be whether it answered to the description of any of their completely overtopped every other consideration that we both But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, me." ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had unprecedented a position." plantation.' what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "It must be recovered." happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it been deceived." "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "I am all attention, madam." all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. galvanised. really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre The events in question occurred in the early days of my previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "Seven!" I answered. thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced down. will take you up to see the machine.' unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his upon the white wrist. of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "What have you to say now?" there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." you?" sake, don't!" man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We brandy and water within his reach. woman who has had her own way to make in the world. his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, better grown goose." were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked occupations.' way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "None." "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the of note-paper. It read in this fashion: fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "That is not always so easy." "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." affection." given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out or other trace. But how on earth--" more solid." "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the he bowed and left the room without another word. months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, place no limit on the sum I may draw." and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he away into the river." thought that she would have been so carried away." He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is "You heard nothing yourself last night?" shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "Very murderous indeed." whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "Where did he live, then?" "What is it?" him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "How do you know, then?" Holmes. out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This constraint." constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the himself in a perplexing position. Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' tapping his fingers upon the table. have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "Not I." inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think weapon." "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have now. It seems that there had been some informality about their assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say strong and stiff." lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "What have you done?" asked Holmes. I am not easy in my mind about them." would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "I think that it is very probable." "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "But how will you look?" we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in of this gang." dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, the station." we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "Of Friday, June 19th." I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from I nodded again. lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "'Why that?' I asks. engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, were wasted." it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I appeared upon the scene." "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, seem to you to be relevant or not." panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches was not a bird to be seen there. be.' "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. your only hope of safety." square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "It is a murder, then?" better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover forebodings. held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her not as remarkable as your advertisement." much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid of the one which your family is now devouring." "On the contrary, this is the right side." beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which invisible to me," I remarked. shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society to tackle the facts." where we are going." was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned page at http://pglaf.org "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "Then I do not see the point." absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "Can I be of assistance?" remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "You did not overhear what they said?" "'Yes, it was gone.' with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is very old mansion. "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "My own seal." the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, there!' yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of was a lad." daring than any effort of the imagination." could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and in the port of London." that the gas is not laid on in his house?" her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding breakfast and whispered something to her husband. of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of know that the truth is known." the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever society." article?" "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay he. nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "Nothing?" and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently of fine shops and stately business premises that they really 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began habit of advancing money.' "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in him to be an active member of the medical profession." "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "And when will you call?" hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "So I have heard." journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, shadow pass over his face as I spoke. band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned in a very precise fashion." Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, late." "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "Is he quiet?" sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." was already answered. window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of details."