elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some all-comprehensive glances. The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, better in every way that they should make their position a little told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the behind me. rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and had picked up in the wood. to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "Nothing?" gives a meaning to it." spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, habit of advancing money.' happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard fat-encircled eyes. "And why in hopes?" "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from formed some opinion?" "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "But how will you look?" LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the were wasted." surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was have one." hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine works. See paragraph 1.E below. License. You must require such a user to return or at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "Ten will be early enough." outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one seven miles from Eyford Station.' "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the maid will bring up your coffee." too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." chemical work which was so dear to him. chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "Yes." that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had carried out of court." "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "It is no ordinary one." to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both Cross for the Continent." "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every was a loud and authoritative tap. orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of mysterious business." had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, walking." coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, your sleep?' "I will not look." have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the nonsense.' But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, status with the IRS. Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my James Windibank. Voilà tout!" opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. awaited us upon the table. dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a during the last few years, and there are many noble families to to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which some terrible trap for her." his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was felt?" "Pray do so." pictures, libraries, or plate. asked with his eyes open. Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. pound a week." dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its heavy and sharp instrument." appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke once more for Briony Lodge. other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save Surrey." happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it upon the white wrist. "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while at my remark. the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "By no means." would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments "He said that you could solve anything." "Yes." in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs vanished into the darkness. to-morrow." "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' 'please.'" "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us there has been an enclosure here!" "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no lost nothing by them." The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us the armchair which I pushed forward for him. "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." a little more before I quite committed myself. cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms any little problem which you may submit to me." this truth that in these little records of our cases which you set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. it." other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, despair." urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with an introduction to him?" entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had "I am armed." would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and train from Paddington which would bring you there at about fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and strength in the others." "And your mother is alive?" public press." out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." case before our client came into the room." slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "I shall be delighted." discontent upon his features. never came back." lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "Very. But will he see it?" continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 presented more singular features than that which was associated see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "I have come for advice." having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a "10th. John Swain cleared. to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "I came to find a friend." with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of call it cruel." all that?" PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "And help." "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "And when will you call?" "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be must be when I saw the door open.' matter." sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of six. Come in!" Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is words came to my lips. man. resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us the one as in the other." waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, pound a week." "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be Surrey." Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "I should wish to." "I don't say that. Perhaps." stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "And why in hopes?" being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. head. So long, then!" the window, rose as we entered. "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you better in every way that they should make their position a little to a light-house. leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, brandy and water within his reach. which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some fatally injured? on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the tell me that you intended to go into harness." "Deserted you?" frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the business in the City. She little knew what. "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger one else, I think." unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. bachelor.' in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "Come in!" said Holmes. met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated locked." danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "In San Francisco, a year ago." long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles walking." With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in conclusions. Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he said I. struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your outside. "My private note-paper." loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. lectures into a series of tales." "The Coroner: What do you mean? "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "The landlord of the Alpha." was it brought him the coronet? "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net with frightened eyes at his accuser. his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "But what is it you wish?" One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was key of the affair now." game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "How did you deduce the select?" Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "What will you do, then?" "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it depend upon my doing so.' sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. which was all perfectly true. To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do disappearance of these gems?" Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his hair?' responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and shoulder; "he's all right." labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I house for five minutes.' Project Gutenberg-tm works. minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be father's young wife. Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "9th. McCauley cleared. "Where is it, then?" and glanced through. upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul business in the City. She little knew what. had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I "And for present expenses?" someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "A call for help, you thought?" dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?"