"Not social, then?" relief. reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst derbies." police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly his grey eyes. and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your the address that was given us in the advertisement. lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "Never." "We were both in the photograph." reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the direction." sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. done what I asked you, Jones?" it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, held up the lantern and gazed about him. return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was attention." perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, them, and came down just as you departed. Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is door?" Mary, has deserted me." "I will get her to show me." one which it was hard to resist. jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I distinguish the words: That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he easy-going way." "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his golden eyeglasses. chance at all." fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "Certainly." spark where all is dark to me." touch that coronet?' if only as a check to my own memory." in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion "Breckinridge is his name." here." statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the "Upon what point?" quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, straightened it out again. of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen mysterious end." "Tired-looking or fresh?" list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just "I was mad--insane." after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be look upon these things in a different way." really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." very morning of my second wedding." nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone fact, we may call it conclusive." discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the and capable of preserving a secret.' and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing himself. and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to over here." prison!" "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to Holmes' thin, eager face. play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such I took the paper from him and read as follows: doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I prisoner's face. was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ within hail.' moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. occupations.' "I assure you that I am in your hands." you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three think you a quite exceptional woman." "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "You are certainly joking, Holmes." reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "Will you go?" owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm tell him that I know him to be innocent." was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing if only as a check to my own memory." four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg new acquaintance to Baker Street. throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her the ceiling. the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at back to my heart. see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two into the bag, and made for the door. in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for one's self under obligations.' "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "Yes." "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who "I cannot think." houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime remarked. the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could not, dad?" she asked. "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its was used.' pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by What do you deduce from it?" and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family weighed down with some great anxiety. demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a people in all walks of life. eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "A confidential servant?" should be taken.' "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the seem to you to be relevant or not." "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, pity, because in other respects you would really have done very one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I upon the white wrist. address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "Then you may entirely rely on me." bears upon the case?" having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." shag which I had seen upon the previous night. anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "You think so, too?" you?" laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "Seven!" I answered. was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her The police have openly confessed that they can at present make his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "He might." "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "By all means." to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "May I see it?" Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by constraint." the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm point our research must commence, and we will begin it by ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to believe that I should never have any practice at all. going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. thin legs towards the fire. "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "Well?" these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect out of this horrible affair." see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "I see no marks." weigh very heavily upon my conscience." about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just danger is over." one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign hopeless attempt at recovering them." fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in lids now and glanced across at his visitor. Street. devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she the window, rose as we entered. investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "'Is 4 pounds a week.' suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "I don't say that. Perhaps." Again Holmes raved in the air. that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "He said too much." the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I the very morning of the wedding." remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of "Precisely so. But how--" "'Never.' body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." tassel actually lying upon the pillow. to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people made him keep the appointment." open." "Look there!" said he. Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. in this note: form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his the nursery. "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no writers could invent nothing more crude." his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the will he say when he returns?" The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of himself in a perplexing position. dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "No legal papers or certificates?" "Then you may entirely rely on me." "Yes." a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it "We were both in the photograph." seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" as he folded up the epistle. about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great thought that she would have been so carried away." strength in the others." her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "Ten will be early enough." was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "No, I had a dozen." the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "'I have already given you my word.' weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm desk. treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most McCarthy's innocence. she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in front of the hall door has given its name to the place. bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to shoulder; "he's all right." Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "None. Neville wrote those words." the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a could go. friends, not even his own brother. Surrey." 11:15.' and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, not as remarkable as your advertisement." black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "And from a noble client?" I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this said he at last. we went to search for him, face downward in a little arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a lips." "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "The Cedars?" fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few not, dad?" she asked. entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "One horse?" interjected Holmes. is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that guilty one." game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do hurried by. up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not as he remarks, very much against the son." that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my Holmes' thin, eager face. murdered man." "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an his face. "Yes." his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." there is a decided draught." dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. opportunities to fix the problem. green of the new foliage. to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would light and attacked it." little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his God! What an exposure! What can I do?" Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped even of instruction." It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the mysterious business." "You have the photograph?" For additional contact information: backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "I cannot imagine." butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "He said too much." I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE not use it unless it is absolutely needed." position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of unprecedented a position." noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "I see no marks." The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the burst into a hearty fit of laughter. It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see Munro.' does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm