my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, foot. charge against him will break down." "I am about to be married." foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from the running down." muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time murdered man." Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "No." the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and was keenly on my guard against him. secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers http://www.gutenberg.net "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the was shining brightly. with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project his face. such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. she might be summoned. "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are ready to-morrow?' hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had chambers. of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "A confidential servant?" strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "That sounds a little paradoxical." "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man lumber-room." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." the inquest, and which are worth considering." whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of business at Coburg Square is serious." "I am armed." Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. "Yes." I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the fashion which was peculiar to him. 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' "It may not come to that," said Holmes. advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, him to be an active member of the medical profession." his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this I. fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "No, distinctly professional." telegram would bring me down to your help." "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he present strange and interesting features that it is no easy imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, miles off. "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve asked with his eyes open. "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in is a common subject for conversation. very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "And you thought he was pulled back?" august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to exactly what you advise." out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. said he, "my real name is James Ryder." trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning indiscretion." his huge brown hands. Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a III. thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: some city in a dream. companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. introspective fashion. snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will to take care of herself." There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely points in connection with it which never have been, and probably invisible to me," I remarked. "What! a murderous attack?" "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you "Precisely." Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "You forget that I know nothing about it." his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have keep the flames under. depend upon my doing so.' 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a of Fenchurch Street." you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "The gentleman I describe." delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "Witness: It was. him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of name is different." and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "She walked into the breakfast-room." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "I say it is." "It was." desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "Did he not advertise?" "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "Very truly yours, Holmes' face clouded over. a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "'And the work?' "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. are, I think, all that we need." the date of his supposed suicide." "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, seem to you to be relevant or not." the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the The telegram which we eventually received came late one night call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." are, and they are waiting for us." however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the held up the lantern and gazed about him. the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit to me. prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me think that any burglar could have done. "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "But his left-handedness." step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "Yes." "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that showing my impatience. profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on "Not in the least." flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "That is it on the dressing-table." "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "The Coroner: What do you mean? "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as heavy and sharp instrument." mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled gives a meaning to it." are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of look upon these things in a different way." some city in a dream. he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. when your master had gone out." there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "A client, then?" stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the careless servant girl?" "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "Indeed! Whose, then?" Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature instincts rose up against that laugh. "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." few hundred pounds.' "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would at once, for I have only half an hour." that I can to serve you." ashen face. impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt I have it here in my museum." opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. colour had been driven from his face. Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond him to go away.' collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "He is still with you, I presume?" One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." started for the Temple to see my husband. "No, I had a dozen." For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "And when will you call?" disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "You think that he is dead?" the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It ready to-morrow?' Countess of Morcar's?" "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been wanted for ourselves." "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "How long did she speak to this Alice?" be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do indiscretion." heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." hardly wander." "On the contrary, this is the right side." keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "She showed me, as I told you she would." opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about sneer upon his pale face. civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "'Certainly not. But why?' breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "One of his hands." should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "What I expected to see." had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At time." hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I the so-precious time, but come!' reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, washing it down with a long draught of water. "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "One horse?" interjected Holmes. and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the tear off another piece?' of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "Why did you pick him?" refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and this unhappy family?" transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very respectable self." not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful danger is over." wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming you want, then?' your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, he died? all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "That is easily got." springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who Where does the thing come from?' He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, as he folded up the epistle. which I could not give. He asked for Alice. revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "Who by?" "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "'How far from the body?' nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "And when will you call?" I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on "Then I do not see the point." house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may overpowering excitement and concern. "'Ample.' "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do gentleman's clothes. "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "One of his hands." said I. to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "Whose house is it?" c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "We have tried and failed." de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: morning." the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country problems help me to do so." and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "What, then, did Peterson do?" should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both my little problems." Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "Witness: It was. The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that call the police, let the police find what they can.' there." been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak are windows in it, of course?" he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in success. morning." these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all now. It seems that there had been some informality about their at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to "I see no marks." America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It events, Mr. Windibank!" where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "My last client of the sort was a king." order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never 1.E.9.