of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "Certainly." gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "I will try. What is it?" breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat It may be so in this case, also." "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, 11:15.' and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers of." three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and a very grave face. there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but this as likely?" "'Yes, I promise.' "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "My dear Holmes!" on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad that I can to serve you." shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "We must have a cab." "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and eavesdroppers?' was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he do.' "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "In heaven's name, what for?" "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. of his shoulders. "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "Thank you. And your address?" down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his kindly on the shoulder. train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, "What then?" present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his acted in my house last night?" sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking case-book, which he consulted. as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged your room." Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "'What then?' I asked. confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "So I am. Very much so." "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to attention." commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window who was a member of your goose club." questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." upon a handsome competence. "At half-wages, in fact." other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "And did you observe any change in her then?" very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would I nodded again. people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped in darkness. happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his in your London, you will know that the office of the company is characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought *** START: FULL LICENSE *** force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, individual and becomes the badge of a society." "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful strength." 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the friend's singular character. occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There daring than any effort of the imagination." will not take me long to tell. stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and you found me to-night--and running through the front room she especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you "It is half-past ten now." with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "It is half-past ten now." blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents lips." friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. it means?" felt?" "Yes, there are nearly always some there." the so-precious time, but come!' questionable one." "Where, indeed?" disappearance of these gems?" paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they to miss it." "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "It's nothing of the kind." X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on father's place of business?" All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "A greater distance to travel." age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one Sutherland?" "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "And the murderer?" "Did you observe the colour?" fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he bell. Holmes whistled. here and I will read it to you: I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the tail." "Absolutely?" been with you?" smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the my little problems." intimate personal affairs in this public manner." hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the answered with a sidelong glance. "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are here and I will read it to you: value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to the station." place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be all?" afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the "And is that all?" assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that DISSOLVED. "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached morning." "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "But the mystery?" swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's fear." the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which he. instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "How are you getting on?" address. very old mansion. winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon the date of his supposed suicide." "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "I am all attention, madam." recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of 1.F. business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted heavy and sharp instrument." Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go the matter?" Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door and effective." and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had with some details as to your case." "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "That's no good." arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very Sholtos." to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that present." noise which awoke you from your sleep?" matter." after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far "Nothing." the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "Can I be of assistance?" "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and details should find their way into the papers. Inspector brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "You forget that I know nothing about it." events, Mr. Windibank!" deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was new acquaintance to Baker Street. cause to be." his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" nothing with him." closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "The best possible." But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said future lives." some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had pound a week." once more. "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this should be taken.' buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you posted to-day." Street. "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular their singular warning or token before them when starting upon see a sister of mine apply for." "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a fuss that is made over them." "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, "Dirty?" who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up the driver. LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR even of instruction." "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "So it appears." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "By no means." the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make arrangements." "'In my own bureau.' All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "No legal papers or certificates?" "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an papers diligently of late, have you not?" attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical companion imperturbably. the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "I have a cab outside." what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "Murdered?" that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, with some details as to your case." see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste "How long did she speak to this Alice?" Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "Not I." be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in of fine shops and stately business premises that they really eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every "It is a murder, then?" Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "'You doubt its value?' he asked. all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "Imitated." confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I up this clue while it is still hot." The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found emerged. and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who