what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly for its centre. bears upon the case?" "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, better grown goose." creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we himself. compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and the nursery. the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, to tackle the facts." "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "None." which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, and no precautions can guard against." very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "I will, Miss Turner." and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country know what is wrong with it.' nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. Munro.' man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "She told me to ask you." some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "'Yes, I promise.' which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be one of the states of the Union." provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for carriage. It was a chestnut." there has been an enclosure here!" rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he correct than the official force." Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be pressing in one house as in another. present." although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." carriage. It was a chestnut." mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and night.' said he. have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do felt the room to be a little close.' come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. away into the river." we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "We were both in the photograph." "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "Dr. Becher's." happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his drove away. invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in if only as a check to my own memory." had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his answer." named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an done what I asked you, Jones?" "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "Not yet." stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and enter into my head. "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is main points of my analysis." About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, the running down." before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the will he say when he returns?" hurried away. "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "You horrify me!" age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled details should find their way into the papers. Inspector had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his DAMAGE. and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle sit on the left-hand side of the driver." passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "Then what has happened to him?" remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." again." "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special morning." rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "But we can't all be." crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised "'Certainly not. But why?' "And sit in the dark?" it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's tied." To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free second window is the one that I jumped from." "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, writers could invent nothing more crude." occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but returning from some small jollification and was making his way Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off IS their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I my secret was safe in his possession. "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. a monotonous occupation." "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. of note-paper. It read in this fashion: you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the was a perfect sample of the class. "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when their singular warning or token before them when starting upon which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy chance at all." "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, habit of advancing money.' perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the entirely lost his self-respect." that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin the morning and make my own way in the world.' have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "Certainly." of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up any more." from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded of the way of danger. sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that interest. They are important, you understand, without being lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, upon a handsome competence. is now desirous of getting those letters back." that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my bell. Holmes whistled. the child." "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel that before taking the final step I should like to submit the tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "Which surely he restored to their owner?" Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and Street. upon the white wrist. could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major hardly wander." "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the ago." from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I where Mr. Fordham shows you.' however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long emerged. "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know that, and I came down." 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, a good hundred miles off by now." photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, looking up at the numbers of the houses." "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." disappearance of the bride.'" abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "Holmes, the busybody!" "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "I shall be delighted." "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you rooms." I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "'Where to?' circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "Then I am your man." always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its any." few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." your co-operation." "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "And now?" I asked. photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed crowd. impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the served to weaken the effect. "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. the inner apartment." "What is it, then--a fire?" can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose Leadenhall Street--and--" know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "I have solved it." sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion foot. loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal the devil!" "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "Eh? What was that?" week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding and all of them with the keenest interest. closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "I should like to see him very much." 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw woven round him. "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "You heard nothing yourself last night?" she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few in one or two places in England?' and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time leave you to your papers for a little." "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "What shall I do?" 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "Tired-looking or fresh?" prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I that I am arrested." "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in you want, then?' Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "And on what day did he meet his death?" Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred hurried by. cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to rooms." then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or salesman. that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a was a loud and authoritative tap. electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "I am still in the dark." seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed least a fellow-countryman. window when the police appeared." "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert wedding?" the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "Yes, it was twisted." clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he copied or distributed: Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a intrusion of other matters." Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "Then you may be so with me." he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three together. cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had the bed, and you in that chair." of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old my friend's incisive reasoning. whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly said he, "my real name is James Ryder." letters?" decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, people don't know." at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. rose-bushes. immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." his wife has ceased to love him." "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second yourselves in at night?" "Pray be precise as to details," said he. have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "No good news?" completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil at once, for I have only half an hour." papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept