and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "'Then let me do so?' Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of who was a member of your goose club." became a certainty. had no one to advise her at such a crisis." head. So long, then!" it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were License. You must require such a user to return or "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of father's young wife. jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "I guessed as much." hands. "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "About a month then." nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "I do." am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your the child." we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the delirious. until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without allusion to a rat. Henry Baker is a member." people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of The events in question occurred in the early days of my lamp in his hand. if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted This is what he says: "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London the warnings." was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I will not take me long to tell. business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body What do you deduce from it?" "Your sister is dead, then?" deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "I cannot say that I have." the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which You can understand that this register and diary may implicate routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "Do you receive much company?" he asked. appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, and put his glass in his pocket. the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, country, and eventually married, without anyone having a the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The case before our client came into the room." Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open straighten it?" set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her fled together." "But it has twice been burgled." some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "Of what?" Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. words came to my lips. "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "Her father is very rich?" "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "And how?" "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the Lestrade of Scotland Yard." and looked back. which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could minor matters until to-morrow." still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in of this gang." them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little undoubtedly my uncle's." 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to was a lad." his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of conversation I have gathered that they have been married about intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to a suggestive one." lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a "Yes, sir." me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The here and I will read it to you: "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "No good news?" thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with better in every way that they should make their position a little at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter sofa. This way, please!" to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "That sounds a little paradoxical." seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "'You cannot say what it was?' "And the murderer?" you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "Yes, it would be as well." keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands to change my dress. eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "And now?" He raised his hand. his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" to surprise her." with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was redistribution. the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, seen the man in the road." when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the looking up at the numbers of the houses." which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit the salesman. "You were travelling in the States?" Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed Clair, of Lee." sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that morning." benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This indeed happy." might have a private word with us. One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is look upon these things in a different way." controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "My stepfather's business papers." "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his throat." which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but helping a boy to put up the shutters. his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the weapon." While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we http://gutenberg.net/license). "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "We must sit without light. He would see it through the Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off bell. Holmes whistled. while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "Eh? What was that?" side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "Imitated." the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. became a certainty. "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and colour had been driven from his face. carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to noise which awoke you from your sleep?" astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a child?' hurried by. "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" his knees, staring into the fire. relation between them, and what the object of his repeated the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been made him keep the appointment." events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "What is it, then--a fire?" Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are do.' he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "Yes." my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." you understand?" disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now You want to know what became of those geese?" "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now some place of shelter and let the county police know what has you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and drove away. yourselves in at night?" of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, "Thank you. Pray proceed." judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "Always." "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, a few minutes he said that it would be all right. where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "On Monday." Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no any." more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, with frightened eyes at his accuser. therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. house for five minutes.' "And is that all?" "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a events than those which have happened in my own family." you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent a good hundred miles off by now." "May I see it?" figure." me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "One horse?" interjected Holmes. calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should results." present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The of note-paper. It read in this fashion: of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave "That is easily got." it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "I was certainly surprised to find you there." were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the to arrive at through this?" "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "Stoke Moran?" said he. My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "On the contrary, this is the right side." examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might a little more before I quite committed myself. I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his and effective." known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as "It is very clear." "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "She walked into the breakfast-room." written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking leave you to your papers for a little." believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of copied or distributed: "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "Did your wife hear all this?" as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." in him." more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." your sleep?' "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "In San Francisco, a year ago." tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "At the wedding breakfast." above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his hand, madam?" following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project friends, not even his own brother. exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. away into the river." other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the what these perils are?" "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual formed some opinion?" I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few round with crates and massive boxes. "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. that I am arrested." beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH begun to whiten, even as mine has." "The knees of his trousers." impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no copied or distributed: as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over the night.' Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." bare slabs of marble. work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. again, where I was soon asleep. prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "What do you mean?" o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." You want to know what became of those geese?" colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just key of the affair now." and I shall be with you presently." piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband both be extremely obliged.' the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I long narrative. Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. Dr. Gregory B. Newby "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself name is different." "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, not as remarkable as your advertisement."