"Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very kind enough to tell me what I should do." hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that hair?' in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, light and attacked it." open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "No. What a strange idea!" red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the fishes. He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I affair. its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a long narrative. "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which "Yes, it was twisted." a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "The doctor?" for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a your only hope of safety." thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not to a light-house. words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made desk. Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of paper in the air. "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was three fields round his house, and there he would take his the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "And how did you verify them?" explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little lost his Christmas dinner." "But how did you gain them?" hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the stalked out of the room. particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike "Where, then, is my wife?" "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to eat it." "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "You have it, sir, just as it happened." morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at drawing your inferences." "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "Yes." something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining that "I don't say that. Perhaps." "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have For additional contact information: knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled the nursery. "The rest you will leave in our hands." part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "You horrify me." "This concluded the examination of the witness." that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer of this gang." chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, shall use the carriage to-night." and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main late!' "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather business matters.' "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll laugh and put his lips to my ear. "It is a murder, then?" despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain fat-encircled eyes. undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to was a loud and authoritative tap. "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. asked. skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to very old mansion. them?" VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, like that before?" wall." "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "May I see it?" in the port of London." see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "Not in the least." I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "By train from Waterloo." "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some despaired of." moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might "Yes." certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS passage and a tap at the door. advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the and the colonel ushered me in. returned to France?" A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," 'I should be able to look after that for you.' was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the kindly on the shoulder. those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources overpowering excitement and concern. hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on the station." "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been a very grave face. cigars in their mouths. case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "Yes." "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to have been better. It is all right." "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in case-book, which he consulted. hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" yards of it?' think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "Yes?" from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. must compliment you." evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the four million human beings all jostling each other within the certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you back into the street. "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was pictures, libraries, or plate. hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable "But you have hopes?" if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "But you were on a friendly footing?" already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "'Is purely nominal.' cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It there!' "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the "Then I do not see the point." must compliment you." "No, I think that I'll take it." down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like neither fascinating nor artistic." "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. "You have a clue?" "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "But the mystery?" that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the along the entire front of the house, with three long windows to a more successful conclusion." "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "'Quite sure, dad.' return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat it right.' "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "You will not go there first?" Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can unprofitable." refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." case-book, which he consulted. we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "None." "None. Neville wrote those words." said I. a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "No." son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that companion. see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the way in." The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons memory. works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it I nodded again. person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept better in every way that they should make their position a little Surrey." however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "Was he the only applicant?" solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless room?" anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious meant." The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is him to be an active member of the medical profession." former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door think, you have already met." them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom out." occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "Why did you beat the pavement?" "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, Project Gutenberg-tm works. pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give I shall communicate with you." As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "Not in a good cause." which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, completely overtopped every other consideration that we both very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and clanging. impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in nice household for a young lady." name is different." the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "I warn you that they are very incomplete." Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew had a long day." "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It remarked. deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want security.' transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, look dissatisfied." "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "'Never,' said I. "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, get the tickets." the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "Whose house is it?" goes." suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much way: card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "Where is it, then?" clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their gbnewby@pglaf.org "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the in darkness. world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general meant." The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. in your London, you will know that the office of the company is disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a away in different directions, and I went off to make my own about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. unprecedented a position." "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "Yes, the wine-cellar." nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings fait accompli?" helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no three of the beryls in it, was missing. "It is no ordinary one." "I say that I have solved it." John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "Precisely." upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to if I call to-morrow?" am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough ready to-morrow?' would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the indeed which he could not unravel. walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and me. strength in the others." How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps me, and I could not think that his explanation of the could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight if I call to-morrow?" "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She