"But you were on a friendly footing?" About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "And that is--" think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which "I promise," said Holmes. one or two very singular points about this room. For example, The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at new duties?' Count Von Kramm." walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very despaired of." envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it forbidden door. difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated shall not find me ungrateful." me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months papers." preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles not interfere, come what may. You understand?" was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed prove to be little relation between the different incidents of when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "And why?" the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle http://www.gutenberg.net "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "VIOLET HUNTER." in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, business?" "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." point in the dark hollow of his hand. against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "How about poison?" "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony are windows in it, of course?" follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the a monotonous occupation." never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "Pray continue your narrative." there." She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were official police." his fortune, and I went back to pa. possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, individual and becomes the badge of a society." "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his were new raised from a basin. annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." him nearly every evening." visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." call you and give you the chance." That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, "How did you deduce the select?" "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of likely to be some crony of the landlady's." wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be again before evening." suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which the morning and make my own way in the world.' beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "On your arm?" practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, not come at once?" trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "Oh, yes, easily." edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands woman who has had her own way to make in the world. head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." beyond words. delirious. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and key turn in the lock." importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the think, you have already met." "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so extraordinary contortions. from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and felt the room to be a little close.' reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' too. India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "Certainly." *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon been deceived." "The murder was done with it." We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill giving me time to thank him. appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast call the police, let the police find what they can.' Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "'What do you call purely nominal?' ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt prepare for the new role I have to play." "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. Heh?' Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would locked. reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." 1.F. black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and "You have carte blanche." the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any him!" great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this bachelor.' "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, Foundation and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, closely." upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your shoulder. his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect do.' at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his late." salesman. "There is the writing." "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have fear." classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "I think it very unlikely." "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "Not him." "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just "Was the window open?" written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "Murdered?" to have that photograph." boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand opened the door, and slipped through. cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the "And your father? Did you tell him?" smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, roused himself from his reverie. flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the signal between you and your father? The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "What then?" "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" you." "Yes." next day. as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next morning." my little problems." which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen silent! Oh, he will be silent!' police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his carriage. It was a chestnut." "I would pay ten." endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to as the one I chose?' "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house affection." aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "And how did you find out?" "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father them?" premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "But how?" have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. the inquest, and which are worth considering." "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in Arthur Conan Doyle "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "Indeed! Whose, then?" Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "My photograph." encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so during which he might have communicated with his friend the "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set not, dad?" she asked. "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I but preventing her from injuring another. didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was occurred." upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." it? Did I buy the geese off you?" him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in villagers almost as much as their master. something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "That you are never beaten." and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "'I shall certainly be there.' everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may Project Gutenberg-tm works. "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "That is not always so easy." of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. I have it here in my museum." small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have fatally injured? it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest late." centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then passage and a tap at the door. my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" room?" go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his in a friendly supper." a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. case before our client came into the room." Edgeware Road. from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature rat could hardly pass through." the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "By train from Waterloo." whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was kindly on the shoulder. He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. a few minutes he said that it would be all right. nights." without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who situation." "Game for a morning drive?" house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his official police." "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over without a word or a look. "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the affection." coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." for the market.' carpenter." see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "Is he quiet?" my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, at my remark. quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "Do you go out much in society?" "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I happened." it right.' applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem be there in time for your coming." and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we