us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we off." "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord golden eyeglasses. him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in colonel looking down at me. would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "Frequently." "He might." "I cannot imagine." "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. there was no need for father to know." last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. legal crime." *** START: FULL LICENSE *** success. took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover do.' to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" must compliment you." opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its was already answered. The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. detained." would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "Precisely." right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "A call for help, you thought?" charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman you do it in twenty minutes!' key of the affair now." "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong nothing with him." "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm to surprise her." could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should upon an income of about 60 pounds." window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the was shining brightly. I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "And I." do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "Yes, the wine-cellar." "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a these bleak autumnal evenings." "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without second window is the one that I jumped from." this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De his face. full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "He said too much." would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "Nothing." places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." recover the gem." fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while "Certainly." me. "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself ourselves in the office." "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" "Yes." had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry see me here to avoid scandal." I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' my friend's incisive reasoning. "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their upon a handsome competence. "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. Dr. Gregory B. Newby "I saw her in conversation with her maid." incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "They are typewritten," I remarked. of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "Nothing." "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further strange features which were associated with the two crimes which eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "What will you do, then?" profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is instituted." little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its the matter." "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. I. creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered to talk it over. "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "What is it, then--a fire?" soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "But it has twice been burgled." poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, will not take me long to tell. the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton definite end. My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "Then I am your man." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "I have come for advice." refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "Never to return." usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." children over to America with him, so that I found myself without companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange country, and eventually married, without anyone having a The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "Very much so." "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "What, then?" at my own good fortune. and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his your Highness to the police-station?" "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a charge against him will break down." nonsense.' had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "Stolen." a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with Holmes. "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "What is it, then--a fire?" Holmes rather sternly. "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the present." nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, what is your own theory as to what took place?" "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in fluttered off among the others. LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR like gravel from a pit.' and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a the roots. believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, which we had just quitted. appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot green of the new foliage. residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a grasp, he hurried from the room. so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it forecastle of an emigrant ship. because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are DISSOLVED. box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "Certainly." his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "Then you may entirely rely on me." "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his cause to be." sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair habit of advancing money.' footfalls from the street. down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this made him keep the appointment." particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock stalked out of the room. docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it in the port of London." "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" "Thank you. Pray proceed." have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you direction." that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, you in your example." like gravel from a pit.' without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to seven miles from Eyford Station.' wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. directly by questioning you." no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in silent! Oh, he will be silent!' trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four sparkled upon his finger. "The knees of his trousers." Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to note?" pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "No bad?" firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I views." not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that outbreak?" room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped present." the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in of this gang." have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a not, dad?" she asked. was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The skylight. you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in distance from the station, and there we found the young lady complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might me, and I could not think that his explanation of the and no precautions can guard against." occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "Yes, that is the Crown." statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the character. fuss that is made over them." him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, brandy and water within his reach. civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must secret." "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "But you have hopes?" go back?" "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "Imitated." bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "I say it is." the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" do.' perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in of a light. muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and there." "Absolutely none." The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the lost his Christmas dinner." charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." "Yes, it would be as well." low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "And from a noble client?" Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A even so self-evident a thing as that." where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And of the efforts of the United States government and of the better signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we photograph a cabinet?" Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came American. Then who could this American be, and why should he With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to all-comprehensive glances. "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the unkempt, staring out at me. hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. friends, not even his own brother. closing the door. points in connection with it which never have been, and probably the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was allusion to a rat. I am not easy in my mind about them." over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being