compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, into the room. India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who lumber-room." towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that your room." little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." tapping his fingers upon the table. so far?" position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect of a light. "'What are you doing there?' he asked. like that before?" than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of redistribution. "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked this remarkable episode. The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. happened." hurried away. sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a address. "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She front of me. The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could tied." turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power woven round him. time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "But we can't all be." thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "I beg pardon." "But what is it you wish?" "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its of them has the shutters up.' him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right chamber." the one as in the other." taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "And you don't know his address?" here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough touch that coronet?' to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. His name is Francis Prosper." Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of and the colonel ushered me in. tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid Holmes' thin, eager face. fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "Where did you address your letters, then?" yards of it?' call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they in. tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon whereabouts. 'I should be able to look after that for you.' felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad least a fellow-countryman. aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with business in the City. She little knew what. between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "Dark enough and sinister enough." "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as since then to throw any light upon what became of him." the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small was shining brightly. but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "An enemy?" it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then habit of advancing money.' caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the sound at heart." homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "Yes." wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "And leave your case unfinished?" "From his hat?" "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "It is true that I have been generally successful." mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these your own bird, so if you wish--" shall use the carriage to-night." machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. papers must be those that are destroyed.' which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we remarked. the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She of the way of danger. "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss "It was." "My own seal." "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his most important business. It is probable that he will be away all of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, 1.F. Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." lumber-room." front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "Certainly." and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business of Fenchurch Street." his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "There is the writing." We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the lips." Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very "Can I be of assistance?" man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since and effective." "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in late!' save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, easy-going way." "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It seen the man in the road." to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce "Then you may be so with me." the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. of this gang." footfalls from the street. "Why did you beat the pavement?" that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be business in the City. She little knew what. "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally unclasping of his long thin hands. the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He your equipment. same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "And for present expenses?" were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four will find little credit to be gained out of this case." could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. his face which made him a very different person to the round, most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or Henry Baker is a member." such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. call the police, let the police find what they can.' circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "'I have already given you my word.' of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that which was all perfectly true. post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor Henry Baker is a member." means taking possession of that which another person has a prior age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it the station." His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I green of the new foliage. your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off people don't know." points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and "Where to?" distance from the station, and there we found the young lady part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" bed dies. Does not that strike you?" And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind if I call to-morrow?" tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call strong and stiff." "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter affair. and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "Pray tell us what has happened to you." you came in." down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "There are none." impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had drove away. constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar relation between them, and what the object of his repeated informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a once more. "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by village inn over there?" gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his "Imitated." "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." himself in a perplexing position. at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have noise which awoke you from your sleep?" Cross for the Continent." remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then meanly of me." foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten woman." think, you have already met." in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to there has been an enclosure here!" I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl nonsense.' "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found to tackle the facts." impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat "When did it break out?" latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of national property. I was determined that the law should have its "What are they?" villagers almost as much as their master. upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" clanging. be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he affair. fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "'How far from the body?' evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE villagers almost as much as their master. assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking this Miss Turner." stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several him, that man would not have given me such complete information side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "'In my own bureau.' to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most it. very morning of my second wedding." downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "'I am sure if I had known--' the warnings." ready to-morrow?' young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "Yes, I have one waiting." be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "It is true that I have been generally successful." if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. Foundation platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the without a word or a look. the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. silent! Oh, he will be silent!' sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. be. bird I ate is country bred." creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk row." "And now?" I asked. whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many bird I ate is country bred." "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the direction in which all this points. The culprit is--"