"I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "It looks newer than the other things?" heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "He slept on the premises." "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "If so, much may have happened between." morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of had formerly been in part my own. simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "I am armed." mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, secret." villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "An enemy?" places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into License. You must require such a user to return or Where does the thing come from?' expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were yet." that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "Where did he live, then?" in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "Of what day?" we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "And that is--" "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some legal crime." possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "The gentleman I describe." the matter." At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "And leave your case unfinished?" last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "I beg pardon." the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk be best to do. on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer forehead. then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be was already answered. how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." chill to my heart. facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." at my own good fortune. pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "I have hopes." across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" such attractions and accomplishments?' before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "Which are?" harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "She will not sell." "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I had this final quarrel? while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "'Quite sure, dad.' been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "Precisely." it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with better in every way that they should make their position a little "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in assist you in forming an opinion." by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "By no means." therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my the room while you explain this matter?" deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the light and attacked it." my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable and put his glass in his pocket. and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the events than those which have happened in my own family." I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of train from Paddington which would bring you there at about loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "It is a murder, then?" tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this then?" "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." ways including including checks, online payments and credit card Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "I have hopes." deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as once more on the important position which you have been fortunate of your young ladies.' enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. reach." "No." simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "'Certainly,' I answered. companion. troubles have been weighing upon his mind. waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the all that?" "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and considering the formidable letters which were received by himself spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being have established a very serious case against the son of the Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "Nothing." "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite observed. implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the been deceived." of it with the greatest attention. might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case results." your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "Have you it here?" affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular breakfast." roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you astonishment. Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to excitement. 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" characteristics, but those are the more obvious." upon the white wrist. The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." Serpentine Avenue. Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in late!' the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "The decline of his fortunes, then?" people in all walks of life. to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." that "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "I will do it." drove away. and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as chance." about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done Holmes rather sternly. "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "You forget that I know nothing about it." "You will not go there first?" we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "And leave your case unfinished?" to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" was shining brightly. glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "My opinion is in no way altered." "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you flock.' flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, recover the gem." fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post there has been an enclosure here!" "Did he not advertise?" I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is The events in question occurred in the early days of my seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked wanted for ourselves." "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "One?" all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "Yesterday." "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an "I answered that I had not. "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "The rest you will leave in our hands." with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "Dr. Becher's." residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her to-night?" I asked. might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "Yes." when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a empty. "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no directors have had misgivings upon the subject." outside. "No legal papers or certificates?" the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the and that he would see to anything that turned up. "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did purpose of examination. if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a went to the Alpha were town bred." "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "But to whom?" wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, important." owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "What?" is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us infinite languor in his face. took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once and have this put in the evening papers." Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as most interesting one." the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" room?" parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to despair." to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another followed. to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense means taking possession of that which another person has a prior the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts of his shoulders. going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much man. I know him from the photograph." he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally Have you good authority for what you say?" fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and voice. "When did she vanish, then?" to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." to have been novel and of interest." could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab definite end. While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the yourselves in at night?" look upon these things in a different way." "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose visitors." "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a did not hear it also.' depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. discontent upon his features. enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired voice. "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges From what you have told me I think that it is possible that Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. where Mr. Fordham shows you.' Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in did not hear it also.' opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish whether it answered to the description of any of their diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel the best of training." as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." Have you good authority for what you say?" approach us with offers to donate. "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready me upon any point which I do not make clear." impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, floor. sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It main points of my analysis." "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." that the gas is not laid on in his house?" post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "Nothing?" "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little unclasping of his long thin hands. "What shall I do?" decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and third from London." Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "Won't it ring?" took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear in my life." right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his head. So long, then!" not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my