not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have him nearly every evening." face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of entirely devoid of interest." to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised "Then you may be so with me." iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at highly," said Holmes. reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting me. You must get home instantly and act." sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in extraordinary contortions. "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." coat-tails." long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "And when will you call?" "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I father's place of business?" that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "Nor running a chance of arrest?" and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. the date of his supposed suicide." possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as been." that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "You have carte blanche." "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No Does that suggest anything?" heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps hurried away. determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual gigantic client. his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly disappearance of the bride.'" offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "I have hopes." "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "Absolutely?" WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" mystery may be cleared along those lines." The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. will not take me long to tell. loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is gone. of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "One of his hands." "May I see it?" by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. from you?" "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "Will you bet, then?" "'Is 4 pounds a week.' made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his if she died from some sudden fright." laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "Eh? What was that?" "Quite so." rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis in darkness. "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I I. Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" recover the gem." cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "I will get her to show me." week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family chambers. VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who distinguish the words: waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "Not particularly." approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there it." the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "No?" ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a what these perils are?" "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the I shall communicate with you." his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "Not in the least." Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the maid will bring up your coffee." downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "And how have you succeeded?" to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the me. step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded and wait." about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "That is not always so easy." he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before nice household for a young lady." case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "But not more so than I to find you." for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful manager. the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "I came to find a friend." Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "What then?" have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "Where did you address your letters, then?" us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean examine." said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "Will you bet, then?" "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined clang of the bell. "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. Stoke Moran." have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned very old mansion. prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." became a certainty. "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his awaited us upon the table. 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything and all of them with the keenest interest. buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not returning from some small jollification and was making his way the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, will not take me long to tell. "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "I don't say that. Perhaps." in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I eat it." "Certainly." Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be deduce something from that?" so.' which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my information in his hands the value of which he did not himself the running down." ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the invisible to me," I remarked. do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he brandy and water within his reach. "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had would then never go into court at all." Street. hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his case-book, which he consulted. submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall dramatic, in fact." character. here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, works. See paragraph 1.E below. It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple crackling voice. but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his union?" in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I affection." "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch which should have the effect of calling the attention of the had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on the little opening for the ventilator is." after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "It is possible." "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "It was a confession," I ejaculated. when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the do.' us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. in darkness. "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' observed. that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "And from a noble client?" that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' British peeress.'" British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "If so, much may have happened between." Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a October 9, 1890. photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "'I am sure that I do not know.' "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was ran thus: indiscretion." from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "No more words. Get out!" And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of arms and began to sob in a high treble key. INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "Yes." been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. of Mr. Rucastle's." blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six McCarthy." Countess of Morcar's?" his grey eyes. "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." get her out of the way." "You are certainly joking, Holmes." into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. the Red-headed League." way: claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and manager. silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "You saw the ventilator, too?" strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "But to whom?" exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my residence of the great financier. her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "What do you mean?" he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "If so, much may have happened between." and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "I think it very unlikely." by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "Frequently." might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case sake, don't!" "Yes, but only for you and me." of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback learned something! Where are the gems?" broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, developed." I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "I am armed." taking in every detail of the apartment. of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It as yours." Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "Then I do not see the point." closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "It was an hour's good drive." his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "What, then, did Peterson do?" rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "Not I." "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has digesting their breakfasts at home." her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "Absolutely?" husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself me what he had done with the three missing stones. "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "This photograph!" "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "I cannot say that I have." "Now, then, what's the last entry?" address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what families. Now for the facts. description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until of campaign. three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is the child." "I cannot imagine." pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "This concluded the examination of the witness." honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged more terrible than the truth. confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second "My dear Holmes!" "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt Stoke Moran." shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting meanly of me." "You are certainly joking, Holmes." innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." During two years I have had three consultations and one small "Nothing?" in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "A thing like a cleaver," said he. companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built not use it unless it is absolutely needed." right! Sit down and let us talk it over." he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he Holmes' thin, eager face.