"'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment instincts rose up against that laugh. Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector Edgeware Road. down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." it." "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I morning." was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "Of what?" pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "And what did you see?" Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce had died away into the silence from which it rose. from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he overpowering excitement and concern. your Highness to the police-station?" "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal head. So long, then!" of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "Why serious?" It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." bell. Holmes whistled. is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger were new raised from a basin. remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "Not in the least." stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in shoulder. Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." entirely lost his self-respect." call you and give you the chance." near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), conduct the inquiry." labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." crackling voice. how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would noble correspondent could be. sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a it. finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed tied." possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "The best possible." her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "I should wish to." "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" the side-table." sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for just called myself is not exactly my own." "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by searched, without anything being found which could incriminate assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "I will not look." his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "I cannot tell." happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking shall use the carriage to-night." admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You do." vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left country, and eventually married, without anyone having a individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally most important business. It is probable that he will be away all unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I had no one to advise her at such a crisis." town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "I think that I had better go, Holmes." I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which pity, because in other respects you would really have done very seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon golden eyeglasses. earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a where she found matters as described by the last witness. first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his said he, "my real name is James Ryder." slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "In the cells." "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at once more on the important position which you have been fortunate if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "How about poison?" "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone the one as in the other." "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "Thank you. Pray proceed." 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the was a lad." me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it redistribution. And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was "And your father? Did you tell him?" copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but such attractions and accomplishments?' the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." upon the white wrist. but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my call you and give you the chance." was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in foot. true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, any." "One of the highest in England." confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. there when the Rucastles went away." pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a crowd. papers must be those that are destroyed.' instincts rose up against that laugh. the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to detective. your only hope of safety." Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or all that?" forebodings. where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a enter Dr. Roylott's room." that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can himself to hunt down. likely to be some crony of the landlady's." has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in October 9, 1890. his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." evidence," I remarked. "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "Then I can wait in the next room." however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same Clair, of Lee." other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "Dr. Becher's." as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new James Windibank. Voilà tout!" hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "'Not at all. I only doubt--' out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "Ah, but I was recommended to you." sparkled upon his finger. so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "Then you may be so with me." hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong train.' "It is possible." "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly nonsense.' or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. her also." away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "And leave your case unfinished?" to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "Yes." "I have hopes." now. It seems that there had been some informality about their man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with society." "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his beyond words. "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out there is a decided draught." been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "How on earth--" that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "Never." together. summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her It may be so in this case, also." over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to Sutherland. "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have Where does the thing come from?' "'About the same.' cigars in their mouths. everything which you would wish to know." matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "What do you make of that, Watson?" whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked neither fascinating nor artistic." really the only notable feature about the thing." existence." lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of where we are going." the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to impression behind it as though a window had gently closed its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "I have solved it." laugh and put his lips to my ear. anything to a woman, for she would have her way." serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some strong and stiff." "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a Countess of Morcar's?" "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock one of them." "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same went to the Alpha were town bred." upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "An accident, I presume?" "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you had this final quarrel? dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "I promise," said Holmes. "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked congenial hunt. "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** instincts rose up against that laugh. His smile broadened. sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by people in all walks of life. thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in signal between you and your father? "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. hour." prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "And I say east," said my patient. too. direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down where we are going." "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "Did you observe the colour?" registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "What of the rat, then?" lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches him." eavesdroppers?' "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause room?" persecution?" to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what said he.