enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them it with his own hands." sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "I will get her to show me." unkempt, staring out at me. left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors colour had been driven from his face. the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "I would pay ten." "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "It is to him that this trophy belongs." with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was believe that I should never have any practice at all. hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" used to be." though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of particular state visit http://pglaf.org shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I friend's singular character. a suggestive one." keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "It is half-past ten now." truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "By no means." "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out bed dies. Does not that strike you?" sooner or later she must fall a victim. remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, delirious. case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are purpose equally well?" fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of respectable self." which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "'In my own bureau.' hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over case-book, which he consulted. other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom enough to aid us in our search." dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "I am following you closely," I answered. commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "I am still in the dark." interest. They are important, you understand, without being "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the in the dead of the night?' blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the to tell." "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned present strange and interesting features that it is no easy the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would himself in a perplexing position. night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have is worth.' family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "Never to return." charge against him will break down." at my own good fortune. on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal anything to a woman, for she would have her way." in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad that before taking the final step I should like to submit the in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were which our visitor detailed to us. "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "That is possible." fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the Pool. feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "How many? I don't know." down from London to inquire more deeply into it." Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a quickly through a disagreeable task. "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would you?' deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and not, dad?" she asked. Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that will not take me long to tell. Where does the thing come from?' "That was it, sir." "Eh? What was that?" me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows over his head with a sweet womanly caress. we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "On your arm?" "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes McCarthy's innocence. examine." days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to begun to whiten, even as mine has." come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a intrusion of other matters." had died away into the silence from which it rose. where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted train from Paddington which would bring you there at about locked. previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London house for five minutes.' the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "Well?" companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question over with notes and figures. public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "By train from Waterloo." we went to search for him, face downward in a little "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I that?' understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, Does that suggest anything?" skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room is so. I know all about McCarthy." "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. him." its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The until night should bring an explanation. Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor will take you up to see the machine.' was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "I shall most certainly do so." stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "In San Francisco, a year ago." desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband one of the states of the Union." a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "By no means." spare." were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and the loss of it. "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." one of the states of the Union." For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "And is that all?" "You saw the ventilator, too?" "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my be sorry for having acted so harshly." doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "I see many objections to any such theory." widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "How did he come?" from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "It was." of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. against a man in the prime of life?" "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms should be taken.' little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble The King stared at him in amazement. Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself "I have hopes." the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "Stoke Moran?" said he. sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he gone before you can get him to hospital." were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for and a shock of very red hair. sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From depend upon your compliance." to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with call you and give you the chance." just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door three of the beryls in it, was missing. "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. of fine shops and stately business premises that they really Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table I leave." given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "You horrify me." known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted situation." Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, reach." derbies." eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the some terrible trap for her." room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are anything to a woman, for she would have her way." whole matter to your consideration." had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his with the outside air!" "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the the dangers which encompass me." Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, south, for the country is more deserted there." "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of only touch the interest." If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly thirty. He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the purpose equally well?" if only as a check to my own memory." 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own been deceived." "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that shaken than I had ever seen him. brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. Lestrade of Scotland Yard." Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his conclusions. wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, breakfast and whispered something to her husband. well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "I am all attention, madam." They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind union?" developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose spare." upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came "What shall I do?" have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "But to whom?" 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my During two years I have had three consultations and one small absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this colonel looking down at me. neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "'I shall certainly be there.' the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. What do you deduce from it?" lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons with you alone." I held the little printed slip to the light. newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps gives a meaning to it." hour?' twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's in the dead of the night?' "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I into the room. "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "You have but to name it." I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at it." vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "'Yes, I promise.' "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "But who is he?" assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was leaning back in his chair. in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "Never." fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend again, where I was soon asleep. clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his the window, rose as we entered. "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while enter Dr. Roylott's room." gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty may have an influence upon European history." double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "But of what society?" the roots. burst into a hearty fit of laughter. suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "None." "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "In answer to an advertisement." "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "You have but to name it." the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his