that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have tell them apart.' to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg with the outside air!" was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. any." "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE this unhappy family?" "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. less than 26s. 4d. man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom there in twenty minutes." lectures into a series of tales." exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I weigh very heavily upon my conscience." other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain rooms." de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "You have it, sir, just as it happened." double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked washing it down with a long draught of water. "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, that you saw all that I did." in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New in a friendly supper." the very morning of the wedding." have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "Not social, then?" as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was "I was afraid that you were engaged." The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, your Highness to the police-station?" "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. tear off another piece?' "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. subject to the trademark license, especially commercial thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King redistribution. "But not more so than I to find you." course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the meanly of me." hour?' Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "An enemy?" companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, writing, and yet I know it well." you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' gone before you can get him to hospital." The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all strength." facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "'What then?' I asked. astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "My opinion is in no way altered." "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "I cannot think." daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. yards of it?' from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I investigation." "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek have had none more fantastic than this." there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "But not more so than I to find you." papers diligently of late, have you not?" money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man "And how have you succeeded?" "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." will he say when he returns?" that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, to Leatherhead. "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a becomes even more simple." discontent upon his features. furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the Project Gutenberg-tm works. signal between you and your father? lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "Why did you pick him?" brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he peculiar to him. have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come later, upon the night of May 2nd." Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" with you?" the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "And Miss Sutherland?" "An accident, I presume?" "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a Edgeware Road. Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily bell. Holmes whistled. "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." problems help me to do so." "It is solved." estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got here and I will read it to you: tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "You forget that I know nothing about it." which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "Who was the criminal, then?" inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "And when will you call?" maid will bring up your coffee." St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was business came to an end." shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot promised to bring home. another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are the driver. "Game for a morning drive?" "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "How did you deduce the select?" learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "But we can't all be." "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed chance." Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in them?" buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "'Oh, no.' style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "But she will refuse." "No, thank goodness, she did not." seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "Yes, from Horsham." swore that no one else had been in the front room during the not, dad?" she asked. sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as been deceived." part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. man. I know him from the photograph." "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "No legal papers or certificates?" groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its individual and becomes the badge of a society." study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose that you saw all that I did." silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this hour." "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. criminal. We have already had experience of such." didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't you found me to-night--and running through the front room she among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its client, rising. We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the never to learn it at all." grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "One of his hands." as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others to take care of herself." "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "Why did you beat the pavement?" buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "How can you tell that?" am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his present strange and interesting features that it is no easy The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the copied or distributed: thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir appointment with me for six o'clock?" Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money my secret was safe in his possession. you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. to you." address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." the window, rose as we entered. them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he gone. and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a laugh and put his lips to my ear. "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can to tackle the facts." fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and ventilator." was the fact that his father should, according to his account, collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "That is possible." she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her you understand?" that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "And on what day did he meet his death?" the warnings." Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot means taking possession of that which another person has a prior the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the one of the states of the Union." In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she of a light. "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. distance from the station, and there we found the young lady most interesting one." preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "Certainly." with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled once more to my work. "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to during which he might have communicated with his friend the on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort nights." snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "Where did you address your letters, then?" perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near him!" of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "And I." for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence points to suicide?" myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "About a month then." outsides of the windows. "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a may never be exposed to such a temptation." grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "He is still with you, I presume?" its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "Did you become engaged then?" of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated next day. in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "That was it, sir." chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "What will you do, then?" thin, with a long, sharp nose?" which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "So it appears." the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass gentleman's clothes. companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" gentleman's clothes. "'Not at all. I only doubt--' the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really there has been an enclosure here!" unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, few hundred pounds.' This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: His name is Francis Prosper." just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, was a lad." "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered sooner or later she must fall a victim. excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric letters?" intimate personal affairs in this public manner." speckled band?" "Pray let us have it, for all that." "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at there." tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, your Highness to the police-station?" scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; all-comprehensive glances. "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I nothing with him." Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down London for the present?" "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "Really! You surprise me." everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and suddenly upon us." active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." it." explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "I have seen the police." "How do you know, then?" several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "Yes. He waved his hands." kindly on the shoulder. belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "'What are you doing there?' he asked. The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS six. Come in!" But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my children over to America with him, so that I found myself without obstinate." presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a bare slabs of marble. and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "How many? I don't know." round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider the nursery. that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "I cannot imagine." pictures, libraries, or plate. you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. "No good news?" wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of and laid it on the table. and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "In San Francisco, a year ago." This is what he says: and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I on re-entering her father's house?" ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "Not yet."