our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted plantation.' is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well hair?' against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you was not a bird to be seen there. what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "'I have already given you my word.' sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a and your relations to her." in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "Has he come with you to-night?" case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge shoulder; "he's all right." it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of crowd. she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her breakfast." would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those to tackle the facts." conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and him. "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you strong reason behind." "And on what day did he meet his death?" forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick one's self under obligations.' but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." reach." "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, placed his cuttings. Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "And you can do nothing until then?" snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if bird of prey. pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful "Not social, then?" building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "Not yet." took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were works. See paragraph 1.E below. he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, I think that I could be of assistance to you." remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at do.' active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "Very. But will he see it?" "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "He said that you could solve anything." fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "And when will you call?" flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "And is that all?" say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it that you saw all that I did." "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are unclasping of his long thin hands. Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "And sit in the dark?" their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a his huge brown hands. peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every and put his glass in his pocket. the matter." Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic bare slabs of marble. where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." the station." hour." endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked been with you?" that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it compunction about shooting them down." "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a and laid it on the table. deduce something from that?" in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "His face fell immediately. I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were "But not more so than I to find you." "Yes, the wine-cellar." and the church but not where the lady lived." "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "Where, then?" disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down upon the shelf for the interim." "I am about to be married." "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then brain must have something in it." however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "What have you done?" asked Holmes. stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a 1.F. narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock interested in these little problems, and since you are good Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together little trying to do so much typewriting?" Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. writers could invent nothing more crude." were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "An accident, I presume?" in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking be there in time for your coming." smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in tightly behind him. Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised views." "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, singular points about the case. What did the police think of the upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a business at Coburg Square is serious." quick march!" Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, leave you to your papers for a little." ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "I have seen the police." always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. comes from the middle window." morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had unprofitable." there were one or two details which were new to me. But the state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "Ample." "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking showing my impatience. upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was would then never go into court at all." Project Gutenberg-tm works. VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE as this. Pray let me have the details." last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. as he folded up the epistle. McCarthy." very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took few hundred pounds.' way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see like that before?" every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for so far?" Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there always that they were such commands as a lady might with was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at fatally injured? the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's It may be so in this case, also." Mrs. Toller serenely. "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but became a certainty. detained." matter." waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time "Yes, certainly." to-night?' he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. cigars in the box." him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as best detective that ever lived. lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say distinguish the words: purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual detained." I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "I should wish to." respectable self." schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and minor matters until to-morrow." "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help John Swain, of St. Augustine. there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." photograph a cabinet?" (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "Yes." and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand suddenly upon us." up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do be. stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that despaired of." "To ruin me." prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So against a man in the prime of life?" you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I where she found matters as described by the last witness. little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the I shall communicate with you." But Holmes shook his head gravely. has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "Yes, I have one waiting." "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with gone before you can get him to hospital." face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from yourselves in at night?" "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in of the efforts of the United States government and of the better state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless gives a meaning to it." rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a "What do you make of that, Watson?" with frightened eyes at his accuser. "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was secret." "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "Did your wife hear all this?" "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its she used." but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. the night.' so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of present." "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. been anything against him. He had for years been known as a Pope's Court, Fleet Street." window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an in a very precise fashion." flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in yards of it?' for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "How can you tell that?" his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. opened a pocket-book and took out a note. probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, in a friendly supper." "And your father? Did you tell him?" Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no delighted to hear it," he said. been deceived." It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a away to you." *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "I shall most certainly do so." "Ah, but I was recommended to you." and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was memory. "And now?" I asked. one or two very singular points about this room. For example, less than 26s. 4d. drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or second." Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "I cannot imagine." and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no comes from the middle window." I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. use an arc-and-compass breastpin." married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you he died? would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop that, and I came down." first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' me upon any point which I do not make clear." might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's golden eyeglasses. glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' him." "About a month then." which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, Pope's Court, Fleet Street." hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began things are very often connected not with the larger but with the than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "Then I am your man." "You have it, sir, just as it happened." twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the