"And the cigar-holder?" "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "You have compromised yourself seriously." back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very you give your casting vote to?" trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "No, but the enclosure is." is a common subject for conversation. are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in me." neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." the devil!" pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the daring than any effort of the imagination." wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our to talk it over. three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what "I will do it." near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have straightened it out again. this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "Seven!" I answered. that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as know what is wrong with it.' "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, any more." way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, voice. he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you prisoner's face. that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "Certainly." "Well, some hundreds of times." other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some morning." beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It recover the gem." "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It "It is no ordinary one." "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when daring than any effort of the imagination." practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a think you a quite exceptional woman." usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "Get out!" said he. wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. signal between you and your father? the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. prisoner's face. Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the the child." States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me Mary, has deserted me." settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "Yes, they were peculiar boots." seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "None. Neville wrote those words." "And for present expenses?" his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of shag which I had seen upon the previous night. floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "You heard nothing yourself last night?" when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father problems help me to do so." "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, followed. companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange meanly of me." afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "It is no ordinary one." singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "Then I am your man." of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady "We have tried and failed." simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, stalked out of the room. "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed you?' "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "Thank you. And your address?" "But she will refuse." electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This outsides of the windows. that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign simple cases which are so extremely difficult." in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "It is possible." "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "My Mary? Impossible!" of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp and that he would see to anything that turned up. what these perils are?" cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem at my own good fortune. "But it has twice been burgled." broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his have one." providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil second window is the one that I jumped from." filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to once more on the important position which you have been fortunate particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of a monotonous occupation." about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly been." "And now?" I asked. tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, the window, rose as we entered. purpose of examination. possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "No." "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." name is different." and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." and laid it on the table. Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a foresight and the moral retrogression?" computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by highly," said Holmes. in the hope of finding them." and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark Holmes' face clouded over. thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses "Then I shall certainly come." permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "Entirely." pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into were unconscious?" still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too habit of advancing money.' How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When strength in the others." intimate personal affairs in this public manner." distinguish the words: stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a this man was intellectual?" abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it thin, with a long, sharp nose?" the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will jewels which you have stolen?' knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the obstinate." table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret Mrs. Toller serenely. or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over some water from a caraffe. "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press 11:15.' "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "When did it break out?" his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as the ceiling. "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "Quite so. She has her freedom." in this way: "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows sit on the left-hand side of the driver." transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country make me his representative both with the servants and with the come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have "Dr. Becher's." ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "Have you her photograph?" garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over coat-tails." not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "That is it on the dressing-table." foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "Yes, all." "His face fell immediately. pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "Then the page we have seen--" the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. call it cruel." somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "Texas, I think." woman who has had her own way to make in the world. agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "What have you done?" asked Holmes. were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and For additional contact information: sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the "I have seen the police." I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no redistribution. the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to "It looks newer than the other things?" wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There awkward doing business with an alias." wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with roused himself from his reverie. "I will try. What is it?" social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous acquaintance?" the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so even of instruction." seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "What!" he roared. father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was easy-going way." standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "No." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with it." disappearance of these gems?" lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope do you make of it all?" "She walked into the breakfast-room." reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But Eyford at 11:15.' like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "So I heard. You have him here?" all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "Her father is very rich?" anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, have had none more fantastic than this." "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "Never to return." I shall continue with my miserable story. Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy gone. the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight strength in the others." gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' absolutely follow my advice in every respect." most important business. It is probable that he will be away all returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him advice." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. and your relations to her." "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it case before our client came into the room." black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her do.' away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, His smile broadened. "Yes." a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, towards the blaze. feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your than to us. and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "My photograph." "She will not sell." "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "This concluded the examination of the witness." and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "Not yet." Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had may never be exposed to such a temptation." great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way congenial hunt. face and glided from the room. terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had furiously. called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was floor. were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "What is it?"