late." having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence of his shoulders. Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "And how have you succeeded?" form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "In San Francisco, a year ago." twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "Tired-looking or fresh?" that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that eat it." groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "And it is--" written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different out." events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great "Just look it up, then." feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak never to learn it at all." "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very depend upon your compliance." The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again "I will try. What is it?" safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his and prosperity to your house. Good-night." little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house "Yes, it was twisted." On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I nonsense.' interest. They are important, you understand, without being in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "He disappeared so suddenly." the house with me." better grown goose." gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "And what did you learn from him?" "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her since then to throw any light upon what became of him." them, and came down just as you departed. "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each do.' "You don't mind breaking the law?" accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "To an end?" gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "And why?" "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to God! What an exposure! What can I do?" the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed wedding?" was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. place of silver." drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming was a loud and authoritative tap. Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, constraint." other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "Could he throw no light?" had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you results." "But how?" A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "Then I am your man." knowledge of the world." supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." fatally injured? stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every becomes even more simple." pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "Absolutely none." whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** ran thus: "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us It was close upon four before the door opened, and a have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the directors, with the result that you have seen." tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has and shall probably return to London by the evening train." my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a characteristics, but those are the more obvious." edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in chemical work which was so dear to him. where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a mysterious business." Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "One horse?" interjected Holmes. the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, "She walked into the breakfast-room." case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you guilty parties." violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very narrative." conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding joking. wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how and I shall be with you presently." grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "Thank you. And your address?" Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "Oh, yes, easily." prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all wedding?" "What do you make of that, Watson?" sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that least a fellow-countryman. 'I should be able to look after that for you.' Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." acquaintance?" "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. strong reason behind." done what I asked you, Jones?" there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the upon the white wrist. Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and where she found matters as described by the last witness. It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the appeal." the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "I warn you that they are very incomplete." quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "It is no ordinary one." "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards "Where, then?" had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it the station." "And you don't know his address?" there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I article?" my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may at a side door. cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "'Certainly,' I answered. met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached directly by questioning you." tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having down from London to inquire more deeply into it." to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up chill to my heart. which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not the matter?" the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, "To ruin me." cup of tea. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments for its centre. never to learn it at all." before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there married her." "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "Precisely so. But how--" "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, entirely lost his self-respect." "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to weapon." was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off I. man. "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "I shall most certainly do so." stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "But who is he?" "Frequently." the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you events than those which have happened in my own family." the matter." row." an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "Yes." "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "Then I am your man." signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster one of the states of the Union." "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" letters?" the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "I would pay ten." to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "That also I could fathom." wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation pierced for earrings?" knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. sake, don't!" "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question "Yes, certainly." "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "I have a cab outside." hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. persecution?" long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and to-night?' weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "That is unusual in a young girl." us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in man. lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a within hail.' I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in through." another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was be. in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "'There is a drive, then?' sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point the one as in the other." town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do crime. left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes details should find their way into the papers. Inspector returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of hopeless attempt at recovering them." until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring British peeress.'" "Yes, all." nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "Then I can wait in the next room." the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he generous with you in money matters.' incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to once more to my work. come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for "Was she in good spirits?" roused himself from his reverie. "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot him and tried to hold him back. "What are they?" some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were row." matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "Stolen." advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "Then, as to money?" it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "How did you trace it, then?" gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold confronted him. part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and served to weaken the effect. husband's writing, madam." presented which may be striking and bizarre without being forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to is acting for the best. upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. "A thing like a cleaver," said he. Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "And the murderer?" size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. standing smiling on the door-step. can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "What! You do not mean bodies?" someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. know what is wrong with it.' the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was Holmes. "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. charged with?" a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "Yes, it would be as well." "It is a murder, then?" again." "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at before the coroner and the police-court." "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society than to us. do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "I have hopes."