lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not just ask you whether you had heard it.' "What then?" "No. What a strange idea!" takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as strength in the others." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips my little problems." "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "I promise," said Holmes. swore that no one else had been in the front room during the very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took "'Never.' Pool. of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow him to go away.' air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "I promise," said Holmes. photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "One of his hands." "Perhaps we may make them less so." "Yes, he did." "And I say east," said my patient. they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "No, finished." done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one what these perils are?" key of the affair now." eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the which it had come upon my father." "It must be recovered." then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "I cannot as yet see any connection." While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of over part of the map. "What do you read?" remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of tassel actually lying upon the pillow. seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she a few minutes he said that it would be all right. a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as delirious. and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One James Windibank. Voilà tout!" that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster this man was intellectual?" Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "What, then, did Peterson do?" down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There answer." the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "One?" lost nothing by them." electronic works equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her which I could not give. He asked for Alice. Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was families. Now for the facts. John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, emerged. hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I digesting their breakfasts at home." "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said "Why? What do you mean?" I held the little printed slip to the light. "Now, then, what's the last entry?" The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he empty. and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would new duties?' six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my that I am arrested." request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "My dear Holmes!" no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in notes," he said. "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "Holmes, the busybody!" every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily "What then?" which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "The murder was done with it." "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her remarked. what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "That sounds a little paradoxical." Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and little trying to do so much typewriting?" The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I Doctor, of the paper and the date." right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "An accident, I presume?" erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and giving me time to thank him. really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, article?" good-night and bustled off upon her way. received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his said he. friend's singular character. sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and strength." Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took "I fear not." "My photograph." "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "Perhaps I have." "A thing like a cleaver," said he. her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was brandy and water within his reach. "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "'Yes, it was gone.' first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "No. What a strange idea!" roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, once more. Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "9th. McCauley cleared. the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "Nothing." "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much Heh?' or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and the iron safe, which he closed upon it. from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "What! Had he lost his wife?" passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "Perfectly so." "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and these bleak autumnal evenings." sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the behind me. Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so side. maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of evidence," I remarked. place, I think that there is good ground to think that the Chief Executive and Director clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut hands. very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "Ah, but I was recommended to you." considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said the bed, and you in that chair." "Then I am your man." Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "What then?" in darkness. so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his had this final quarrel? One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some open." Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "That you are never beaten." there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "By no means." "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." License. You must require such a user to return or "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "Then the page we have seen--" "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute have established a very serious case against the son of the shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which tell him that I know him to be innocent." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "But how?" the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." disappearance of these gems?" knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. became a certainty. "Did he not advertise?" month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg point our research must commence, and we will begin it by coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for if she died from some sudden fright." soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "It is no ordinary one." "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." brought there to personate someone, and the real person is through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "I cannot tell." wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are closely." "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "I know where it is." "Yes, I have one waiting." know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "But we can't all be." following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes it. shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "None. Neville wrote those words." part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is which it had come upon my father." occupations.' way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the was shining brightly. His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept the so-precious time, but come!' "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "How on earth--" follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and ashen face. Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we union?" quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a to where he stood hid behind the curtain. important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us already referred to. and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "'You doubt its value?' he asked. your billet.' "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was business?" "No." Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "It is solved." Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." tail." knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable never came back." two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we away into the river." in this note: to arrive at through this?" my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of silent! Oh, he will be silent!' over part of the map. "What do you read?" eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it your equipment. more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her problems help me to do so." faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "I cannot think." answer." it with his own hands." "I would give my fortune to have them back." reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. orange pips. The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" clang of the bell. those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out she used." "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for house for five minutes.' excitement. the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about Watson," he said cordially. tightly behind him. woman who has had her own way to make in the world. of Fenchurch Street." "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "We were both in the photograph." best detective that ever lived. little trying to do so much typewriting?" the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of to Leatherhead. evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had you do it in twenty minutes!' "Here?" lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he way in everything. will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "Very well, sir. And this stone?" the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "And your mother is alive?" "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" brandy and water within his reach. "I shall be delighted." ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been some mystery and the punishment of some crime." through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been miles off. "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, Holmes rather sternly. sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and keep the flames under. "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I promised to bring home. got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened man. America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. to-morrow." "And you can do nothing until then?" with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good very old mansion. the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to