are, and they are waiting for us." "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." "That is also quite modern," said the lady. crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another village inn over there?" and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out one or two very singular points about this room. For example, the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your You can understand that this register and diary may implicate me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address me have 200 pounds?' impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should colour had been driven from his face. each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did shall not find me ungrateful." "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, humiliation." rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no business?" clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "One of his hands." "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. Literary Archive Foundation "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit interested in these little problems, and since you are good why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or dead, shall be safe with us." We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, of your young ladies.' envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful that he will be back before evening." "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" several quiet little villages up there." throat." brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "I shall be delighted." I. so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "And I say east," said my patient. "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch very peculiar words of the dying woman?" which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the unprecedented a position." was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "It is solved." morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "And help." days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but even so self-evident a thing as that." whether it answered to the description of any of their "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining amused." believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not records." about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "I cannot as yet see any connection." once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "Only as much as we can deduce." "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "Well?" had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the the warnings." now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' strength in the others." and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as was keenly on my guard against him. my little problems." "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "Perhaps we may make them less so." one of them." think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "It missed him, then?" estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, "No sign of it?" To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There the running down." take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "I have my revolver," said I. SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he formed some opinion?" "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had I am not easy in my mind about them." "'Why that?' I asks. man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, should be so warm over such a trifle." quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George hair?' written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "How do you know, then?" "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me Dr. Gregory B. Newby said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back the devil!" you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who tension within him. "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There room. copied or distributed: a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the good-night and bustled off upon her way. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "Where, indeed?" Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the that there was nothing in it, after all." "You'll never persuade me to believe that." But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see strong and stiff." mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of "His face fell immediately. upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a photograph?" It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "My dear Holmes!" English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted chair. been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge have an American origin." "I cannot tell." years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I both be extremely obliged.' look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round go from here to the Strand." ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "In which, sir?" sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "I should be immensely obliged to you." "My photograph." tail." street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "To the police?" hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The father's young wife. confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office noting anything else of interest. property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could over his head with a sweet womanly caress. herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to here." winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling But Holmes shook his head gravely. Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "She showed me, as I told you she would." the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down than to us. "You don't mind breaking the law?" our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "Never." work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to "At half-wages, in fact." it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his investigation." tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he gentleman's clothes. "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes bare slabs of marble. vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I any more." John Swain, of St. Augustine. few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a "What have you done?" asked Holmes. and put his glass in his pocket. so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to Surrey." did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "Then I do not see the point." ago." what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "'Why that?' I asks. "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." about. transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 was used.' at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "Whose house is it?" had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." himself to hunt down. and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five ourselves in the office." and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the learned something! Where are the gems?" return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind to-night's adventure." Clair, of Lee." weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind bearing upon the case." train from Paddington which would bring you there at about that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's companion quietly. creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "One of his hands." "'Certainly not.' morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "Nothing?" then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can "I know where it is." pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "Who was the criminal, then?" hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said closely." building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism "Could he throw no light?" I have it here in my museum." until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing was used.' "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "The doctor?" another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate without a word or a look. A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which lips." present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for "And you don't know his address?" the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend weighed down with some great anxiety. "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "My dear Holmes!" round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "None." once more. "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, enter into my head. which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow astonishment. disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in chambers. retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, thirty. "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." shoulder; "he's all right." social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my drawing your inferences." informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk Project Gutenberg-tm works. wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, upon the sideboard." Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering round and wave him away like that.' constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me suspect him." shaken than I had ever seen him. "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "Of what day?" shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a seen the man in the road." deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do I approached. "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect peculiar to him. "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed prisoner's face. happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my was feeling which was the fattest.' "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might Watson," he said cordially. bears upon the case?" as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so charged with?" you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' "But how did you gain them?"