the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he existence." valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "Precisely so. But how--" hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this For additional contact information: purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "Very well, sir. And this stone?" then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "I am following you closely," I answered. crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk go from here to the Strand." arrested. You then--" "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily tapping his fingers upon the table. to talk it over. was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited invisible to me," I remarked. "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will my friend's incisive reasoning. an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "If so, much may have happened between." Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." sooner or later she must fall a victim. "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "'Stolen!' he cried. "'I have heard so.' as he remarks, very much against the son." "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." intimate personal affairs in this public manner." desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, said I. "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I he died? "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "And how in the world did you find them?" Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "An enemy?" remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. must be when I saw the door open.' "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "We must have a cab." contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "An accident, I presume?" "'I shall certainly be there.' and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that stalked out of the room. have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural wedding?" English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." was shining brightly. "I think that I had better go, Holmes." know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life to me. relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "What can it mean?" I gasped. Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as imbecility!" he cried. really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is the little opening for the ventilator is." go back?" "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, Project Gutenberg-tm works. attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had daring than any effort of the imagination." deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such place, I think that there is good ground to think that the and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles Holmes. "But how did you gain them?" Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss or in danger--" "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly head. So long, then!" the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands arrangements." his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door the date of his supposed suicide." remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "But you have hopes?" preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" go from here to the Strand." a monotonous occupation." like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached a suggestive one." his eyes and forehead. at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the behind me. Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very to arrive at through this?" to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the forehead. Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the works. black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to written. which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both people don't know." cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, he. "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I burst into a hearty fit of laughter. save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our gone. tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "And for present expenses?" but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I whereabouts. been shamefully used." over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and meant it for the best. who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." "I cannot say that I have." "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being row." Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been up this clue while it is still hot." redistribution. George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just will he say when he returns?" presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the foot. certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge McCarthy's innocence. secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet or in danger--" importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "What will you do, then?" before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now this remarkable episode. and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught south, for the country is more deserted there." prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress the loss of it. "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could thin, with a long, sharp nose?" struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "A client, then?" throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "To the police?" was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "Then how many are there?" "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to compunction about shooting them down." "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." Again Holmes raved in the air. "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "Well, it is a possible supposition." that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress that you wished to speak to me?' can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but hurried away. "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. voice. man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would putting in the horse. centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those humiliation." the coronet at all injured?" bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with a little more before I quite committed myself. Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was thought that she would have been so carried away." "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." lamp in his hand. hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." coat-tails." as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some lost nothing by them." the Assizes." once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "Very. But will he see it?" its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, bled considerably." vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored closing the door. shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us such attractions and accomplishments?' been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him than to us. to some other building. "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. if she died from some sudden fright." is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "'I have heard so.' "Frequently." fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been such attractions and accomplishments?' Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "I cannot as yet see any connection." "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague was a loud and authoritative tap. prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "Did you observe the colour?" of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. row." stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "Do you know him?" clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who "'Entirely.' "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a is now desirous of getting those letters back." helping a boy to put up the shutters. ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a fat-encircled eyes. patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "Certainly." brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "'Oh, no.' two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for strength in the others." There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "What do you make of that, Watson?" upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., see a sister of mine apply for." matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something during that time.' The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled good for you to do.' late." closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "I was certainly surprised to find you there." myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself my room." upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some any." horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in remarked. strong and stiff." "You saw the ventilator, too?" "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his call the police, let the police find what they can.' process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside do." "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net),