to his chemical studies. been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with breakfast." which are rolled in Rotterdam." relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the Gutenberg-tm License. labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "At the wedding breakfast." original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, if she died from some sudden fright." lids now and glanced across at his visitor. some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "It was." politicians who had been sent down from the North. upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from respectable self." possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "You don't mind breaking the law?" terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "I will, Miss Turner." were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my someone who had been in Australia." suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "Yes, it was twisted." you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project when you have done it." hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence think, you have already met." and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "I was certainly surprised to find you there." A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small read over the extraordinary announcement. brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "'Oh, no.' with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I sofa. This way, please!" "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, is entirely a question of barometric pressure." then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "'Certainly not. But why?' the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California "Witness: It was. "Nothing." fishes. of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his late." made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very make me his representative both with the servants and with the grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "'I have already given you my word.' together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "No." relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "But we can't all be." and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he other means.' nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts that, and I came down." "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best arrangements." that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. Arthur Conan Doyle all?" "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a ready to-morrow?' "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." your billet.' As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room could not have written that. It is the German who is so heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place country, and eventually married, without anyone having a Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, round with crates and massive boxes. "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I door?" this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is way in." strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which you do it in twenty minutes!' "At the wedding breakfast." no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' charge against him will break down." adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just and inquire as to the address." give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from golden eyeglasses. he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the it with his own hands." poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical a room. all-comprehensive glances. "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond annoyance, but no jest. America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by along the entire front of the house, with three long windows methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other threw himself down with his face to the pillow. position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her not as remarkable as your advertisement." obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the at my own good fortune. so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "No." of them has the shutters up.' "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months perplexity from it to my illustrious client. tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "'There is a drive, then?' "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us she has been waylaid. There has been no result." stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, sparkled upon his finger. "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "My Mary? Impossible!" experiences." again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and definite end. England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the for securing the situation." "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her that there was nothing in it, after all." "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for drove away. from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." my former friend and companion. heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, and it need not interfere very much with one's other "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you "What steps will you take?" I asked. "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that during which he might have communicated with his friend the the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "Then you may entirely rely on me." moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just not use it unless it is absolutely needed." he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when You want to know what became of those geese?" "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "He said too much." and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our "No." have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "Why? What do you mean?" "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "Of what?" "'Where to?' I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, Clair, of Lee." the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes writers could invent nothing more crude." and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal than was visible to me." "Then I am your man." grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was with some details as to your case." day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his where she found matters as described by the last witness. he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." redistribution. actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "I never have." of fine shops and stately business premises that they really quick march!" see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a my friend's incisive reasoning. sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while depend upon your compliance." up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT advice." screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to "In heaven's name, what for?" donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," It may be so in this case, also." coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They in darkness. silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set notes," he said. reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "And how?" certainly not very gracious." Leadenhall Street--and--" cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since that he will be back before evening." a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the the general public were present, then?" ran thus: "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" door?" upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is the bed, and you in that chair." took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her outsides of the windows. age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "And now?" I asked. "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "And help." interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you Edgeware Road. The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "Witness: It was. "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, "No good news?" St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "'And the work?' therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom directly by questioning you." I shall continue with my miserable story. bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "The murder was done with it." facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, as yours." B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" remarked. "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "And the cigar-holder?" quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "'Never.' We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry spark where all is dark to me." "Pray do so." platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE hour." sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "There are none." conclusions. said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works call the police, let the police find what they can.' business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "And help." then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "It was an hour's good drive." off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. could not have written that. It is the German who is so set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where "Because he was handy and would come cheap." the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net instincts rose up against that laugh. fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly conversation I have gathered that they have been married about this man was intellectual?" "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a of the way of danger. There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is use an arc-and-compass breastpin." she has been waylaid. There has been no result." myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon the south-west, I see." be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs had this final quarrel? murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by burst out into a roar of laughter. round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, conversation I have gathered that they have been married about the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of open." would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, him. "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." thirty. a very grave face.