the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a passage and a tap at the door. "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "She told me to ask you." "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "My private note-paper." "I cannot think." a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "To the police?" "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so business came to an end." down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential outside. hardly wander." Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to hands. "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps time." was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for woman." "'It is locked up,' I answered. "You will not go there first?" waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." or in danger--" my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "Certainly." "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "'I have already given you my word.' "When did it break out?" the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "The rest you will leave in our hands." to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond intrusion of other matters." supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in done what I asked you, Jones?" quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but him nearly every evening." "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' true." pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. someone who had been in Australia." do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when yet." that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in highly," said Holmes. over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which I approached. wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the Henry Baker is a member." "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at there were one or two details which were new to me. But the Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "'There is a drive, then?' "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "'About the same.' go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for noting anything else of interest. smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger the coronet in his hand?" "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." the bed, and you in that chair." hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years God! What an exposure! What can I do?" notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. works. See paragraph 1.E below. Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for me. You must get home instantly and act." the very morning of the wedding." jewels which you have stolen?' reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "That was it, sir." Mary, has deserted me." may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "How did that help you?" had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "What I expected to see." the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "Stolen." "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until recall any case within my experience which looked at the first was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the said I. some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat pound a week." yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources introspective fashion. I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" yards of it?' main points of my analysis." business at Coburg Square is serious." the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal gentleman's clothes. With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." there when the Rucastles went away." recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed straighten it?" have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in a room. followed. simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of telegram would bring me down to your help." shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like away into the river." "What then?" absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," for the market.' Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an the matter." fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "'Stolen!' he cried. entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, said Mr. Holder. you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general your troubles." (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might official police." house for five minutes.' "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." "No sign of it?" passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat and all of them with the keenest interest. "Holmes, the busybody!" sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to you do it in twenty minutes!' "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat away to you." "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "I cannot as yet see any connection." her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "Thank you. And your address?" "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. and the whole place is in a blaze." distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some made his money." which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, ourselves in the office." "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the or in danger--" the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "In what way?" asked Holmes. there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' them present such singular features as the strange train of anything to a woman, for she would have her way." rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each and that he would see to anything that turned up. wedding?" vanished into the darkness. man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. quickly through a disagreeable task. furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "What!" he roared. woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "Did he not advertise?" "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "I am about to be married." "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said way in." to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how morning." as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to following enigmatical notices: the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under "Never." no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "It was an hour's good drive." "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "That sounds a little paradoxical." "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small gone. who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, was used.' baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just DISSOLVED. "The knees of his trousers." down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when seven miles from Eyford Station.' fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' upon an income of about 60 pounds." "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner all that?" it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "You horrify me!" dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked as he folded up the epistle. "'Certainly,' I answered. place no limit on the sum I may draw." to you." "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds leaning back in his chair. "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless the little opening for the ventilator is." It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in if she died from some sudden fright." believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something Holmes. of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal in this note: morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes late." works. See paragraph 1.E below. of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "I am following you closely," I answered. the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who open." bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure giving me time to thank him. after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a few hundred pounds.' hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly keep the flames under. has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after if only as a check to my own memory." "Yes." bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so something of him before." platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "She told me to ask you." dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have assist you in forming an opinion." "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the went to the Alpha were town bred." "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its shall not find me ungrateful." is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident me." Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to Holmes' thin, eager face. you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional