in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he ashen face. One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or shadow pass over his face as I spoke. have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "And now?" I asked. hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a letters?" "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I advice." "Yesterday." first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "Yes?" "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is there has been an enclosure here!" allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too his knees, staring into the fire. cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "Yes. He waved his hands." answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more a little more before I quite committed myself. outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal know what is wrong with it.' anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "In the cells." science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid writing, and yet I know it well." that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond business in the City. She little knew what. stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he generous with you in money matters.' back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said "If I can be of use." you came in." make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were with some details as to your case." "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit awkward doing business with an alias." Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss status with the IRS. "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before "And I say east," said my patient. and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much thin legs towards the fire. desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "The best possible." your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "One?" the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and to tell." As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with keep the flames under. congratulate you again." "I promise," said Holmes. round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll beyond words. "I was afraid that you were engaged." fire. You quite follow me?" look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then for the market.' either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man address. would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. other lovers by making love himself." "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered thirty. the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at them, and came down just as you departed. Have you good authority for what you say?" my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "No." donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "'I am sure if I had known--' James Windibank. Voilà tout!" to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the I think that I could be of assistance to you." "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. http://www.gutenberg.net brandy and water within his reach. "It is his hat." He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a his grey eyes. with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." she used." flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to undoubtedly my uncle's." ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "None." little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the the Red-headed League." smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been the coronet in his hands?" hour?' Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying must be when I saw the door open.' "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "On Monday." There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. someone who had been in Australia." both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "What shall I do?" "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, heavily into it. being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms a very grave face. one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard bonnet, and went out." myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "Texas, I think." were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the conclusions. flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not wanted for ourselves." Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "It was a confession," I ejaculated. other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. giving me time to thank him. returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "Her father is very rich?" what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of and the church but not where the lady lived." through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread hands. returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "That is unusual in a young girl." "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "We must sit without light. He would see it through the light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. main points of my analysis." have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "But I am all in the dark." "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure the driver. stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. of them has the shutters up.' suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had as noiselessly as she had come. wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over for its centre. electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "And what then?" customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "When did she vanish, then?" "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "Nearly eleven." possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might works. See paragraph 1.E below. where Mr. Fordham shows you.' shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "Yes, the wine-cellar." freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is lost nothing by them." we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. cigars in their mouths. afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. place of silver." that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am me, and I could not think that his explanation of the Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself not interfere, come what may. You understand?" been lifted and conveyed somewhere." data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook to arrive at through this?" use an arc-and-compass breastpin." hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "'About the same.' wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "What then?" "You are all wrong." layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "Was he the only applicant?" its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "I think that I had better go, Holmes." who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "Pray continue your narrative." "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even gives a meaning to it." cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to strength of mind to control. test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them furiously. certainly not very gracious." get the tickets." pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each three of the beryls in it, was missing. to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "None." will take you up to see the machine.' he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "Who by?" "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply train.' beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "Pray do so." after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three did not hear it also.' Heh?' Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as and laid it on the table. marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other bearing upon the case." "Yes?" rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in breakfast." "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. a room. some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a results." "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She papers." dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of bird I ate is country bred." whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm chance at all." occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a down in his armchair and closing his eyes. power." his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed place, I think that there is good ground to think that the weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "Where to?" VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check was a lad." "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "But what is it you wish?" lids now and glanced across at his visitor. man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it man. I know him from the photograph." adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would that before taking the final step I should like to submit the "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "It surprised me." look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "Where, indeed?" "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon derbies." black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "Not him." "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." seen the man in the road." "What are they?" traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and people in all walks of life. "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "My opinion is in no way altered." this remarkable episode. pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name wedding?" "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who hour." colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet security.' of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "'About the same.' very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.'