to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' For additional contact information: earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have *** START: FULL LICENSE *** note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. said I. Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime the window, rose as we entered. right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two was used.' connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" strong and stiff." All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "And now?" I asked. "On Monday." that you can jump it.' "'Is purely nominal.' building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit occupations.' McCarthy." a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." me. You must get home instantly and act." "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "'Certainly not.' them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land Countess of Morcar's?" was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no chance at all." buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all the bottom.' in this way: absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I compunction about shooting them down." sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that "His face fell immediately. walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a "'Certainly not.' snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at "Entirely." appeared upon the scene." his face. the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our least a most suspicious remark." latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray minor matters until to-morrow." See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. way: opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "An enemy?" headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "'Is 4 pounds a week.' Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well morning." prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before and a shock of very red hair. "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I when your master had gone out." and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst notes," he said. serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was official police." "It certainly sounds feasible." "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "What then?" our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "I guessed as much." London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "Then I can wait in the next room." sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "That is also quite modern," said the lady. while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had sneer upon his pale face. beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "Of what day?" quick march!" seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "Won't it ring?" into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "It is a murder, then?" electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers allusion to a rat. "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "The King of Scandinavia." "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent their singular warning or token before them when starting upon and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, the dangers which encompass me." agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "In heaven's name, what for?" Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of call it cruel." see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which some place of shelter and let the county police know what has in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility lectures into a series of tales." "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in people don't know." note?" father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and astonishment. "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found events, Mr. Windibank!" "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." which I could not give. He asked for Alice. but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "Then what has happened to him?" you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "I am all attention, madam." answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of lectures into a series of tales." "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "'Oh, no.' "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. about. "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is "And why?" Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to mystery may be cleared along those lines." may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper most important business. It is probable that he will be away all believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, was a perfect sample of the class. conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside good-night and bustled off upon her way. "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the instincts rose up against that laugh. and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "Then he might have called to you?" whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has your billet.' demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always not as remarkable as your advertisement." brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into morning." last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and opened a pocket-book and took out a note. it." of your young ladies.' "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at nights." "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that than was visible to me." another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "Yes, they were peculiar boots." wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without fishes. will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the which should have the effect of calling the attention of the note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of outsides of the windows. a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "'Stolen!' he cried. in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "Your presence might be invaluable." "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." me. You must get home instantly and act." innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect clang of the bell. said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied I leave." man. client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper three of the beryls in it, was missing. it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, tension within him. "Yes." dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a power." "It certainly sounds feasible." "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "Nothing." person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "I cannot tell." counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with bore every mark of being an average commonplace British he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed the very letters. But what is this written above them?' never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. upon the shelf for the interim." and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much shoulder. "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they Chief Executive and Director morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is later, upon the night of May 2nd." "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she of." "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you Stoke Moran." to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the the bed, and you in that chair." Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "I am all attention, madam." hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "'Ample.' Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own make me his representative both with the servants and with the "And what did you see?" which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a at a side door. "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "'Tell me all about it,' said I. lost his Christmas dinner." estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "It is solved." think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "How can you tell that?" "No, finished." separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but of fine shops and stately business premises that they really and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "Ample." "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have meanly of me." of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, retorted upon me, and I on you." "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place sit on the left-hand side of the driver." every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of said I. silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "'Never.' During two years I have had three consultations and one small "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. tell me that you intended to go into harness." believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "You will not go there first?" despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "But how did you gain them?" sake, don't!" follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow McCarthy's innocence. there when the Rucastles went away." as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of my little problems." which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you shoulder; "he's all right." I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all desk. "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "When did it break out?" face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction gbnewby@pglaf.org inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, excitement. brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "And how?" repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right "How did that help you?" all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been note?" was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and married her." brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she friends, not even his own brother. notes," he said. and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I