"Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass considering the formidable letters which were received by himself used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. new duties?' creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the garden below. than to us. lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine sufficient punishment." we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do highly," said Holmes. I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. swore that no one else had been in the front room during the to-morrow." seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and Mary, has deserted me." What do you deduce from it?" again before evening." As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons not personally threatened." tell him that I know him to be innocent." "Nothing?" they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your formed some opinion?" "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. once more. premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': new duties?' "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have bled considerably." "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "But what harm can there be in that?" near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by comes from the middle window." "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I village inn over there?" perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried prove to be little relation between the different incidents of signal between you and your father? there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." certainly do as you advise." conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and His smile broadened. great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very "Always." Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "But we can't all be." "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "Where is it, then?" feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to too. lids now and glanced across at his visitor. is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, Holmes rather sternly. and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a a suggestive one." wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "To ruin me." "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." companion quietly. wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know http://www.gutenberg.net "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have I leave." stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed cost them two and thirty pounds." money should be paid at once.' sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "Game for a morning drive?" was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project certainly do as you advise." "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "Here?" Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence voice, changing her seat as requested. face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I time." its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "Eh? What was that?" "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious voice, changing her seat as requested. "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "And when will you call?" remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "'A dozen yards or so.' gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he lamp. that I can to serve you." "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "What can it mean?" I gasped. of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party constraint." "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their correct than the official force." here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, McCarthy." with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. been deceived." office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the the stable lane now." sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. companion imperturbably. noise which awoke you from your sleep?" Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "I shall be delighted." "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his gone. expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "I warn you that they are very incomplete." framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day have had none more fantastic than this." "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm a monotonous occupation." bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "'Which dealer's?' the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "It is very kind of you." there were one or two details which were new to me. But the do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." against a man in the prime of life?" "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "'Ample.' "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "Very well, sir. And this stone?" to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the place of silver." 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to "BALLARAT." Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. were wasted." For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "It must be recovered." that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just one else, I think." "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time and glanced through. had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had residence of the great financier. upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or "Then he might have called to you?" as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such a monotonous occupation." "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the plantation.' is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "'Yes.' and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, know that the truth is known." continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the your only hope of safety." the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut this remarkable episode. "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw shall not find me ungrateful." of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "What do you make of that, Watson?" eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "And what did you learn from him?" another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "My dear Holmes!" drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and dead, shall be safe with us." the so-precious time, but come!' that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources face and glided from the room. thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, be there in time for your coming." received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could down in his armchair and closing his eyes. "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the note?" cigars in the box." disappearance of these gems?" aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "Yes, I have one waiting." unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "That is easily got." "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making guilty one." It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "Pray let us have it, for all that." drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than corner of the building. piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last the very morning of the wedding." it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present kindly on the shoulder. "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. Pope's Court, Fleet Street." my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of that you saw all that I did." the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over done what I asked you, Jones?" the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of "But the mystery?" young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, had died away into the silence from which it rose. really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have tightly behind him. servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not all-comprehensive glances. your co-operation." ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of allusion to a rat. offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand once more. snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy already referred to. to affect your life." Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally do." places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, must be when I saw the door open.' far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "It is very kind of you." affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature despair." helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "At what time?" "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked morning." "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE a very grave face. There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "What is it?" a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. showing my impatience. Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "Whose house is it?" over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the http://www.gutenberg.net man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR and looked back. be sorry for having acted so harshly." your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my security.' corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the presume?" part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of back alive. easy-going way." appointment with me for six o'clock?" "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at observed. 1.E.9. flock.' who was a member of your goose club." but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his