she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with she slowly sank and died without having recovered her was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "Why, what do you mean?" come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of and glanced through. position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an stalked out of the room. pound a week." "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting "You are hungry," I remarked. penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the "No. His orders were to stay in the house." the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "Yes. He waved his hands." Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. lost nothing by them." Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "And for present expenses?" breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "Here?" bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she dead, shall be safe with us." The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to not, dad?" she asked. chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "No, my brougham is waiting." "My photograph." again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and the Red-headed League." stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "The decline of his fortunes, then?" had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "Well, some hundreds of times." trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." these bleak autumnal evenings." been able to understand it, in a very few words. been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as Pope's Court. well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of about here speaks of his kindness to him." "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it entirely lost his self-respect." "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "VIOLET HUNTER." of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." get her out of the way." shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." you, my dear young lady?' to affect your life." among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is point in the dark hollow of his hand. been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the of the way of danger. "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to "No." your most interesting statement." "Always." people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as me." I nodded to show that I had heard. was feeling which was the fattest.' "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than there has been an enclosure here!" crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "It may not come to that," said Holmes. he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are is so. I know all about McCarthy." understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." October 9, 1890. another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good already been minutely examined." roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "'Certainly not.' number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "Yes, at the mines." had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had noise which awoke you from your sleep?" fuss that is made over them." fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried observed. time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the the stones. Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: himself in a perplexing position. lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or that I am arrested." that I can to serve you." away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to spark where all is dark to me." "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "Very murderous indeed." "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an made him keep the appointment." but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "I cannot tell." "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "Precisely so. But how--" "You are all wrong." "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must at my remark. He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "Witness: I must still refuse. some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an the warnings." "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very gentleman's clothes. "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt remarked. next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" out of this horrible affair." My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I suggested at once that there must be a communication between the what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from I shall continue with my miserable story. that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "No, my brougham is waiting." "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa and put his glass in his pocket. tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means coat-tails." "Where is it, then?" everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the weapon." Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. putting in the horse. fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would *** START: FULL LICENSE *** arrangements." extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were this poor creature." bears upon the case?" however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, "Game for a morning drive?" "But you can know nothing of this?" "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual Mrs. Toller serenely. Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. could not account in any way for the presence of the missing may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "Stolen, then." sofa. This way, please!" here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or 1.F. resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the learned something! Where are the gems?" while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in just ask you whether you had heard it.' provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "From his hat?" dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the asked with his eyes open. "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; that I am arrested." daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she fashion which was peculiar to him. what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully train from Paddington which would bring you there at about bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are Mrs. Toller serenely. conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, footfalls from the street. "How often?" The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "Eh? What was that?" It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and speckled band?" forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. have established a very serious case against the son of the so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet on re-entering her father's house?" habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be I have it here in my museum." could not account in any way for the presence of the missing and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "'Which dealer's?' death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the "Here?" narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "Very. But will he see it?" "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "Yes, all." right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "VIOLET HUNTER." through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the you." brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the heavily into it. signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes call you and give you the chance." "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at http://www.gutenberg.net "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. vault. from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and room?" "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "The vanishing of the lady." Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email occupations.' gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "No, finished." shall not find me ungrateful." knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their have an American origin." layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "Whose house is it?" and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He make me his representative both with the servants and with the than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in humiliation." of receipt of the work. "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "How did you trace it, then?" envelope. "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. spare." hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "No bad?" could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good me upon any point which I do not make clear." black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "Then I am your man." which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "You have but to name it." "Absolutely none." "What!" he roared. other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and to his chemical studies. do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired asked with his eyes open. "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to speckled band?" "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment in my life." spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "And for present expenses?" "Never to return." is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall be best to do. up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding the armchair which I pushed forward for him. "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel room?" of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so now. It seems that there had been some informality about their your troubles." sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I me. we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "In the cells." INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; washing it down with a long draught of water. that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were