(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without and laid it on the table. "I cannot imagine." long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew meanly of me." outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to for its centre. came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "To an English lawyer named Norton." entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "Pray tell us what has happened to you." us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "I will do it." and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out make me his representative both with the servants and with the first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "Very truly yours, Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked four million human beings all jostling each other within the "You horrify me!" "'Entirely.' "It certainly sounds feasible." Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and humiliation." When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "No." "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "But how?" work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical for the market.' turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by for the market.' some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ been able to understand it, in a very few words. and shall probably return to London by the evening train." incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not had died away into the silence from which it rose. Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no not personally threatened." there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "I cannot think." "A greater distance to travel." row." "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson your equipment. there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with brain must have something in it." from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "Which are?" against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." "'In my own bureau.' you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No three fields round his house, and there he would take his "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "He said too much." Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger McCarthy." housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking paper in the air. his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your you in yours." all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare but preventing her from injuring another. dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked noise which awoke you from your sleep?" in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there call the police, let the police find what they can.' landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "The best possible." had formerly been in part my own. black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our "The Coroner: What do you mean? shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend chance." fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are in a friendly supper." the King without delay." and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "I shall most certainly do so." hereditary King of Bohemia." chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is the side-table." I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said said I. wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give she to prove their authenticity?" civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical "Entirely." no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house murdered man." prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with there!' material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "Was there a secret marriage?" the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two Mrs. Toller serenely. suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the fuss that is made over them." "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always "No, thank goodness, she did not." explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the the warnings." on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted "No, I think that I'll take it." heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." may never be exposed to such a temptation." Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. the night.' clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "I see no marks." house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people were wasted." dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as you." "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "Then I do not see the point." "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. is acting for the best. something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "Why, what do you mean?" delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "That is easily got." who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "But it has twice been burgled." "VIOLET HUNTER." man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he morning." "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "How did you deduce the select?" happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "And the murderer?" his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of anything to do with the matter?" frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. detained." had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked the south-west, I see." when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "It may not come to that," said Holmes. "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. over his head with a sweet womanly caress. old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "And how did you find out?" request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned to talk it over. "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as the inquest, and which are worth considering." attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position foot. much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "How do you know, then?" protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the tell him that I know him to be innocent." and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations to me. "Entirely." The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of people don't know." o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "I never have." thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical "'Very good.' seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he without success. At last the little money which I had saved began six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "Certainly, madam." and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker appeal." tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I main points of my analysis." you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter some water from a caraffe. pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "He might." the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up over part of the map. "What do you read?" Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, the coronet in his hands?" "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "No." "And Irene Adler?" night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I to arrive at through this?" stammered. have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself guilty parties." Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until been deceived." hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She and looked back. It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "'It is locked up,' I answered. vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and from the brougham. likely to be some crony of the landlady's." my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say attention." with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say strength in the others." turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "But to whom?" and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under "My opinion is in no way altered." I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her skylight. wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled matter." "None." "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went fluttered off among the others. destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "I shall be delighted." always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being DAMAGE. put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "In what way?" asked Holmes. performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "You know me, then?" the dangers which encompass me." the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey murdered man." room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." south, for the country is more deserted there." the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in which it had come upon my father." 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "What have you to say now?" her also." himself to tell his story. "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End made his money." "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. important." begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill of Fenchurch Street." attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "Because he was handy and would come cheap." come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "Yes, he did." "I see many objections to any such theory." matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred pictures, libraries, or plate. character. deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he gigantic client. I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "Then I can wait in the next room." fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "You are hungry," I remarked. the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "I cannot imagine." flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, evidence," I remarked. The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when went to the Alpha were town bred." which we had just quitted. "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "He is still with you, I presume?" registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through "In the cells." journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that four million human beings all jostling each other within the papers on the sundial.'" of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the confronted him. developed." shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." colonel looking down at me. play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "What will you do, then?" a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel "So I am. Very much so." layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at infinite languor in his face. for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room.