a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "Never." game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated "I would pay ten." however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "You were travelling in the States?" investigation." a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "I will get her to show me." was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I of them has the shutters up.' Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such new acquaintance to Baker Street. into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was cigars in the box." instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my once more to my work. hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I throat." upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." think you a quite exceptional woman." the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might the stones. "Married! When?" away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and Holmes' room. fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I points in connection with it which never have been, and probably it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the hardly wander." "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "And Miss Sutherland?" lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I affair. minor matters until to-morrow." very morning of my second wedding." Lestrade of Scotland Yard." is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "The Coroner: What do you mean? words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." upon a handsome competence. shag which I had seen upon the previous night. and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young one or two very singular points about this room. For example, right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. "Yes?" manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "Now, then, what's the last entry?" armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called gives a meaning to it." Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I nothing with him." trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as some city in a dream. done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to your billet.' bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On she used." of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap whereabouts. "Well." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "I have a cab outside." ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort an introduction to him?" his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "What will you say?" servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible where we are going." greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if points in connection with it which never have been, and probably "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that 1.E.9. mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts wife's character?" the stable lane now." "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "BALLARAT." a very grave face. scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, which should have the effect of calling the attention of the one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a national property. I was determined that the law should have its Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official papers." Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either suddenly upon us." companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "I will not look." is four-and-twenty." "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "But how did you gain them?" which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your "How do you know, then?" "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "When did she vanish, then?" It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the all?" served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed there was no need for father to know." "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here since then to throw any light upon what became of him." matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "Can I be of assistance?" closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment he died? silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: it." time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "Nothing?" presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. tassel actually lying upon the pillow. telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those records." brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she who was a member of your goose club." doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty despair." companion imperturbably. has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said investigation." the Assizes." game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian have not had my rubber." him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses happened." huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout upon a handsome competence. quickly through a disagreeable task. the driver. "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "And who is her maid?" "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing promised to bring home. fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just you in yours." "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "Awake, Watson?" he asked. frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a "What?" little trying to do so much typewriting?" she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other opened the door, and slipped through. province." "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "I should wish to." as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" disappearance of these gems?" again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You client, rising. there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "Why, it's a dummy," said he. to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in you." say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been hereditary King of Bohemia." and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, felt?" "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It "BALLARAT." gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads that you wished to speak to me?' hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What present." but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "It certainly sounds feasible." electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this stood on the top of it. speckled band?" that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us door?" "I will, Miss Turner." overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "One of his hands." feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a and no precautions can guard against." row." here." you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "Why did you beat the pavement?" "From his hat?" him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an girl said." crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was of campaign. impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "And you can do nothing until then?" were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for back into the street. people don't know." "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged that I may have something better before very many minutes are it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "No. His orders were to stay in the house." pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such straightened it out again. George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately that, and I came down." amused." things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or be there in time for your coming." "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, Doctor, of the paper and the date." eat it." connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have Lestrade of Scotland Yard." Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "How did he come?" surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, be sorry for having acted so harshly." "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it "Your sister is dead, then?" interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB arms and began to sob in a high treble key. another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "Witness: Nothing definite. fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "You horrify me!" no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin constraint." me what he had done with the three missing stones. "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of His smile broadened. we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in interest. They are important, you understand, without being than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." stalked out of the room. opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for him. "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. http://www.gutenberg.net "Why, what do you mean?" down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured strength." perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "'What are you doing there?' he asked. of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him your own bird, so if you wish--" the inquest, and which are worth considering." with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter The summons was a brief and urgent one. line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was head. So long, then!" was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there and inquire as to the address." he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was who was a member of your goose club." slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual despair." "At half-wages, in fact." the roots. "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "The gentleman I describe." to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning him, that man would not have given me such complete information "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him never came back." make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to