PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the you in yours." "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "I don't believe it." delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself was a loud and authoritative tap. lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. child?' of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of for the market.' machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "The knees of his trousers." "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "But to whom?" "Dark enough and sinister enough." afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "'You cannot say what it was?' follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in it. all that?" tied." perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your conceal it?" horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By License. You must require such a user to return or an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards of fine shops and stately business premises that they really my little problems." objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that any little problem which you may submit to me." brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of the morning and make my own way in the world.' the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached and have this put in the evening papers." manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long use an arc-and-compass breastpin." very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of sofa. This way, please!" "They are typewritten," I remarked. man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "Pray be precise as to details," said he. we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "'I have already given you my word.' "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." never to learn it at all." Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes writers could invent nothing more crude." Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The vague figure huddled up in the darkness. answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you ordinary clothes on?" glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "To ruin me." from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "But you have hopes?" said I. "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would Cross for the Continent." is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "No legal papers or certificates?" struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "Did your wife hear all this?" the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "I cannot think." "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who "An enemy?" low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I not as remarkable as your advertisement." which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from you?' freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. a suggestive one." "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "My photograph." which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, redistribution. appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "Certainly." have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened she might be summoned. said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." of the vacancies.' them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. the very morning of the wedding." what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly of this gang." events than those which have happened in my own family." clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy The events in question occurred in the early days of my "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "I assure you that I am in your hands." process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but prepare for the new role I have to play." morning." would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That "I beg pardon." look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. character. "An enemy?" head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a during that time.' "Then I shall certainly come." and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it woman." bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client to some other building. than to us. "And that is--" Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. article?" and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of compunction about shooting them down." "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from 'I should be able to look after that for you.' side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some noise which awoke you from your sleep?" of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "And now?" He raised his hand. though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to once more on the important position which you have been fortunate in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns to take care of herself." showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door said he. "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was will find little credit to be gained out of this case." as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "That was it, sir." ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and weapon." explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been go back?" conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the him. betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who examine." "When did she vanish, then?" "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened place of silver." I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to with her." of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. this man was intellectual?" "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, later, upon the night of May 2nd." object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "It may not come to that," said Holmes. where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried III. outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, is a common subject for conversation. the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate all-comprehensive glances. upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated nonsense.' outbreak?" "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the matter." have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking hurried away. Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do Lee, in the county of Kent." Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "No, but the enclosure is." "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "Yes. He waved his hands." King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point figure." time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this together. thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "'Entirely.' once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "My photograph." "Have you her photograph?" Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. not within a twentieth part of the market price." Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. directors have had misgivings upon the subject." useful material for showing traces. The double line a little took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "Ah!" methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was highroad, where all traces were lost. part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "A call for help, you thought?" "Nor running a chance of arrest?" keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with business matters.' "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free vanished into the darkness. St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "You will not go there first?" "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "'How far from the body?' have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the read it out to me." hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "You have carte blanche." had picked up in the wood. keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "No, I think that I'll take it." absorbing." showing my impatience. silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind furiously. handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "He slept on the premises." her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole and all of them with the keenest interest. silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "To an end?" brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., giving me time to thank him. observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every ways of our fellow-men." London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "I am to be neutral?" in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "I would give my fortune to have them back." "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their shall use the carriage to-night." him, that man would not have given me such complete information ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a I shall communicate with you." these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before or in danger--" galvanised. refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to said I. forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. weary and pale-looking. reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose his knees, staring into the fire. "How often?" arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was the window, rose as we entered. remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "Then the page we have seen--" to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "Yes, that is the Crown." with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "And how in the world did you find them?" "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. you in your example." "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "You are certainly joking, Holmes." upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover felt?" laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "No legal papers or certificates?" nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so the south-west, I see." "No, my brougham is waiting." delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become business." eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a that you can jump it.' freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a will find little credit to be gained out of this case." He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "'Where could I find him?' "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. companion. home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "The gentleman I describe." "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. strong and stiff." "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square least a most suspicious remark." his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, do." manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." despair." this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest