"How did he come?" such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "I have solved it." in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I would apply.' natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all troubles have been weighing upon his mind. the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she green of the new foliage. which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ relief. "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two shadow pass over his face as I spoke. friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "Yes, all." among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about danger is over." "No. What a strange idea!" "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. room had already been engaged for us. very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I walking." wife's character?" "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "That is easily got." cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "That was it, sir." never to learn it at all." cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too pierced for earrings?" lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "Is he quiet?" went to the Alpha were town bred." fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner out." "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" strode off upon his way. "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "Dark enough and sinister enough." his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and think that he is innocent?" eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, confronted him. "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. meant." "He slept on the premises." just called myself is not exactly my own." "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "An accident, I presume?" room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming clang of the bell. brain must have something in it." pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to Countess of Morcar's?" swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not the ceiling. could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence floor. maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her we went to search for him, face downward in a little your room." revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven words came to my lips. "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" you want, then?' England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right happened." flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. a monotonous occupation." posted to-day." sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a child?' some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the outsides of the windows. have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "'Not at all. I only doubt--' safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant Holmes." heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "I think that I had better go, Holmes." you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly highly," said Holmes. permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into you, my dear young lady?' the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she up this clue while it is still hot." from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE in the port of London." The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there but preventing her from injuring another. "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no the devil!" "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' if only as a check to my own memory." o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "And Miss Sutherland?" your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." main points of my analysis." rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be was used.' He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "It is his hat." hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "What can it mean?" I gasped. unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was presented more singular features than that which was associated "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled of the one which your family is now devouring." although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to guilty one." practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. arrested. You then--" accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it been lifted and conveyed somewhere." upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never even so self-evident a thing as that." clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "But not more so than I to find you." and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "Yes." "Her father is very rich?" to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across character. over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is drove away. reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in you?" by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. shall use the carriage to-night." to me. as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will the coronet at all injured?" rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some enter Dr. Roylott's room." "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew how narrow had been my escape. Mrs. Toller serenely. would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "How can you tell that?" the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "It is solved." reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, impression behind it as though a window had gently closed Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband window when the police appeared." man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing "You are all wrong." "What are they?" Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "What! a murderous attack?" make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this searched, without anything being found which could incriminate swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "But how could you guess what the motive was?" in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit jewels which you have stolen?' in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" useful material for showing traces. The double line a little and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this for and were ordered to this address. in the dead of the night?' for and were ordered to this address. it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the how narrow had been my escape. Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew fasten all the windows?" to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this my special province." nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" to surprise her." to take care of herself." your co-operation." noting anything else of interest. his wife has ceased to love him." places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair have accepted such a situation. travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the started for the Temple to see my husband. was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling breakfast?" stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have presume?" room had already been engaged for us. all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley Holmes' thin, eager face. success. in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It details." from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the shag which I had seen upon the previous night. important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "Was there a secret marriage?" for its centre. to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "No bad?" There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, answer." seen the man in the road." Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose gbnewby@pglaf.org It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "Pray let us have it, for all that." room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, point in the dark hollow of his hand. play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist not within a twentieth part of the market price." shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the maiden herself was most instructive." professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "No?" advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, for the market.' threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing very morning of my second wedding." serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some against a man in the prime of life?" another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and hour?' Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. detained." The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "How do you know, then?" But Holmes shook his head gravely. furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "That's no good." your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "And what did you see?" through." and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was where we are going." "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could shoulder; "he's all right." "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with which are rolled in Rotterdam." to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him McCarthy." at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "It was an hour's good drive." right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's looking up at the numbers of the houses." other lovers by making love himself." "Imitated." "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "'Stolen!' he cried. police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "I am armed." the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the fire. You quite follow me?" colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic your sleep?' sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made