his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round the roots. This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave lamp. conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so Heh?' having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. the house with me." and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." his fortune, and I went back to pa. withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been during that time.' means taking possession of that which another person has a prior round and wave him away like that.' again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "Quite so. She has her freedom." month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "'Yes, I promise.' it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite to take care of herself." pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we this remarkable episode. unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "No." "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is "Was there a secret marriage?" "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "I was certainly surprised to find you there." return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough conceal it?" "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "But you would not advise me to refuse?" the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a bearing upon the case." skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser own family. was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases tapping his fingers upon the table. in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "'Quite sure, dad.' railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among rat could hardly pass through." his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and breakfast?" because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom hopeless attempt at recovering them." value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may just called myself is not exactly my own." away into the river." During two years I have had three consultations and one small mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "By no means." "This concluded the examination of the witness." as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away sentimental considerations in the background which would induce moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a salesman. dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "And now?" I asked. undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If most interesting one." simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each one of them." coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "Never." Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, congenial hunt. opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in some terrible trap for her." before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "And why?" judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "'What then?' I asked. go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are "You heard nothing yourself last night?" his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot page at http://pglaf.org finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the most important business. It is probable that he will be away all Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "There is the writing." "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had "No, but the enclosure is." "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's "But how did you gain them?" "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "'Stolen!' he cried. our word." over here." colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds what do you think they found in the pockets?" Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to burst out into a roar of laughter. "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "Very much so." hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in experiences." reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He hour." Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the "'Entirely.' and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he only touch the interest." but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through habit of advancing money.' imbecility!" he cried. "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who call you and give you the chance." back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "Thank you. Pray proceed." "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I name is different." "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I as he remarks, very much against the son." "Ah, but I was recommended to you." Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly as the one I chose?' "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "Where did he live, then?" over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in young Openshaw's." "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to on in his house." "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into on re-entering her father's house?" shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite walking." "You have the photograph?" fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "My own seal." papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "Well, but China?" "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "Yes." "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and everything which you would wish to know." not, dad?" she asked. Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the "Nor running a chance of arrest?" change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in little trying to do so much typewriting?" because she had spent so short a time in this country that she that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "The decline of his fortunes, then?" All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "And on what day did he meet his death?" home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. of campaign. sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some which was all perfectly true. it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "And you can do nothing until then?" seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an "Well, some hundreds of times." time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the "Here?" middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "My own seal." "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." it." would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue me. You must get home instantly and act." that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in fishes. address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he opened a pocket-book and took out a note. tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect mysterious business." avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "'I shall certainly be there.' a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "In what way?" asked Holmes. the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four with you?" "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered Holmes rather sternly. c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." conversation I have gathered that they have been married about than to us. "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he disappearance of these gems?" sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the you came in." In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only "At the wedding breakfast." "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "I should wish to." villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "I am all attention, madam." "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what Cross for the Continent." his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. beg that you will break it off." me have 200 pounds?' "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most is so. I know all about McCarthy." have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "BALLARAT." "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "The knees of his trousers." that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "What is it, then--a fire?" collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such knowledge of the world." It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "We have tried and failed." means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "And on what day did he meet his death?" swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the at home. "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "Yes, but only for you and me." varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout British peeress.'" "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, disappearance of these gems?" piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was most interesting one." we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "You horrify me." and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change present." upon the sideboard." he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices opportunities to fix the problem. "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still power." with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "There are none." little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "I cannot think." tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "Yes." charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "I should wish to." have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who your room." "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew