valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "And is that all?" real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them "You horrify me." to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to indeed which he could not unravel. "You saw the ventilator, too?" "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "Was he the only applicant?" "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "But you have hopes?" "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "In what way?" asked Holmes. been deceived." "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I existence." "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that You want to know what became of those geese?" "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a in the port of London." "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the foot. man. since then to throw any light upon what became of him." where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "You know me, then?" clanging. in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "The knees of his trousers." to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project what I may call a really hard day's work." hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an with you?" nothing of it?" "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "Then how many are there?" note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life least a most suspicious remark." "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "'You doubt its value?' he asked. the general public were present, then?" which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts take the flies, but not before." of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' "Is he quiet?" upon the sideboard." you." "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "But his left-handedness." company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "No?" home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "Was she in good spirits?" the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "But you have hopes?" furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." crime." "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to night.' said he. and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily anything to do with the matter?" The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the grasp, he hurried from the room. hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk into her hand at the door and which lured her within their this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic relief. opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a and a shock of very red hair. again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of good for you to do.' reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the man. I know him from the photograph." Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with so.' servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible results." "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads think that he is innocent?" derbies." down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her giving me time to thank him. of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "How can you tell that?" and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the was it brought him the coronet? appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had geese which you supplied to the Alpha." "No legal papers or certificates?" every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. where Mr. Fordham shows you.' tell them apart.' "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, cigars in the box." and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an hardly wander." It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "To ruin me." "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss "I have my revolver," said I. hour." "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened relation between them, and what the object of his repeated order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that companion. "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." like that before?" between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "In San Francisco, a year ago." "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "No, I had a dozen." safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "Then I can wait in the next room." "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "On Monday." Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "You know me, then?" in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than he bowed and left the room without another word. however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had means taking possession of that which another person has a prior the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which ways of our fellow-men." "Not particularly." "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower even so self-evident a thing as that." of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly memory. "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would if I call to-morrow?" me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of I am not easy in my mind about them." Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to nothing of it?" He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear "Well, it is a possible supposition." "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which "That is it on the dressing-table." I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution companion. some city in a dream. little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative call you and give you the chance." help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. served to weaken the effect. better grown goose." Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss arms and began to sob in a high treble key. delighted to hear it," he said. him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." it means?" neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was house for five minutes.' whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "And why?" mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "Of what day?" in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of acquaintance?" mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I place no limit on the sum I may draw." Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled were unconscious?" from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and room. "'Yes, I promise.' "Were they all fastened this morning?" "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "By all means." "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. foresight and the moral retrogression?" disappearance of the bride.'" spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "You horrify me." fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely whether it answered to the description of any of their from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built ashen face. down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "Nothing." an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was companion quietly. while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought outside. "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his chemical work which was so dear to him. entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such individual and becomes the badge of a society." practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a happened." dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular there was no need for father to know." "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to "What have you to say now?" what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City matters immensely." works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is fact, we may call it conclusive." over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him status with the IRS. dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the the house with me." There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I to some other building. company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who could go. to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the of it with the greatest attention. chance at all." "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. Gutenberg-tm License. The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "Ten will be early enough." "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "A confidential servant?" transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that me. You must get home instantly and act." a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "Very well, sir. And this stone?" what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the most interesting one." expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "But how will you look?" tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy if only as a check to my own memory." utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in conceal it?" the date of his supposed suicide." "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for and a shock of very red hair. where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and