long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles details." have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for that, and I came down." reach." he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which as this. Pray let me have the details." rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical least a most suspicious remark." "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an I shall continue with my miserable story. should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long promised to bring home. refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our there." "I am following you closely," I answered. round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport into the bag, and made for the door. yards of it?' pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by national property. I was determined that the law should have its this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "And sit in the dark?" "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope do.' present strange and interesting features that it is no easy at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "It is to him that this trophy belongs." first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "Your French gold?" order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "VIOLET HUNTER." everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and think that he is innocent?" other means.' "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "Won't it ring?" "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met heavy and sharp instrument." said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need present." heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. "Certainly." "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then true." "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "It is possible." the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the go from here to the Strand." fatally injured? off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "'Never.' force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "To the police?" "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "The murder was done with it." Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand placed his cuttings. it right.' people don't know." "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "Never to return." "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the definite end. card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our to tackle the facts." for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your to change my dress. profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put be there in time for your coming." with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was was shining brightly. "I will get her to show me." for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I the Red-headed League." adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "Then you may be so with me." "Because he was handy and would come cheap." week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." so far?" Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and Munro.' unclasping of his long thin hands. Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime nice household for a young lady." could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the business." neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "One of his hands." The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope deduce something from that?" stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known crime." sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "'In my own bureau.' professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my most important business. It is probable that he will be away all Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without undoubtedly my uncle's." "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past sooner or later she must fall a victim. "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few "No. What a strange idea!" "There are none." be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of any." education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "Deserted you?" "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day copied or distributed: sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything and files of the old papers, following the future career of every Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "What have you to say now?" "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was retorted upon me, and I on you." work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," upon the sideboard." his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some that I am arrested." This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian to have that photograph." there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. ventilator." doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There extraordinary contortions. fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a searched, without anything being found which could incriminate a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "Stolen." made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "'Then let me do so?' "Could he throw no light?" "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where go back?" jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who was a lad." was feeling which was the fattest.' permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in derbies." because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very papers diligently of late, have you not?" twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. annoyance, but no jest. "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "Entirely." whole matter to your consideration." out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "I shall most certainly do so." the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "And how have you succeeded?" lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this heavy and sharp instrument." though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of straightened it out again. "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." secret." that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and your own bird, so if you wish--" "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': ago." "That also I could fathom." said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "Yes, sir." where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "'What do you call purely nominal?' be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism mystery may be cleared along those lines." heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "Is he quiet?" "But his left-handedness." him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me papers must be those that are destroyed.' the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." overpowering excitement and concern. I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands humiliation." THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he friends, not even his own brother. "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow tear off another piece?' 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a redistribution. reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this searched, without anything being found which could incriminate seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it plantation.' 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. his fortune, and I went back to pa. so.' "And your father? Did you tell him?" my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred which it had come upon my father." banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a maid will bring up your coffee." ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "But he might be a bachelor." A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you chance at all." believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part colour had been driven from his face. "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "None." of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his presume?" donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," characteristics, but those are the more obvious." gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back congenial hunt. the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in ways including including checks, online payments and credit card and the church but not where the lady lived." breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the your sleep?' "Seven!" I answered. passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had strong reason behind." full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. strong and stiff." were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This questionable one." "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "Holmes, the busybody!" His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "9th. McCauley cleared. "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then you came in." it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "She will not sell." he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know several quiet little villages up there." "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "Yes." he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he My friend smiled. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and woven round him. other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if frequently gained my first real insight into the character of happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "But his left-handedness." 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at papers." "Your presence might be invaluable." lectures into a series of tales." "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St.