long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles reach." "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle that he has suffered." that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "And your mother is alive?" that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "To an end?" been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "Will you go?" points in connection with it which never have been, and probably roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was minor matters until to-morrow." make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his Again Holmes raved in the air. business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "He said that you could solve anything." "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and towards the blaze. "Why did you beat the pavement?" The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the good for you to do.' asked. ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this useful material for showing traces. The double line a little earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to the night.' travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "Married! When?" The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "Could he throw no light?" in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out or other trace. But how on earth--" believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate them present such singular features as the strange train of away to you." companion. "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a how narrow had been my escape. success. gigantic client. reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do of this gang." to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I "And your mother is alive?" into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I of the efforts of the United States government and of the better in his power. "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips breakfast and whispered something to her husband. to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "Precisely so. But how--" he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I guilty one." pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two breakfast?" o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss in a friendly supper." the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any side. until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "Where did he live, then?" case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you "Nothing?" "I guessed as much." Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker Heh?' "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "I am in hopes that she does." it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you reach." Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "An enemy?" "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, and have this put in the evening papers." The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which over his head with a sweet womanly caress. beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "I will not look." blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight even so self-evident a thing as that." "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. ourselves in the office." by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled the room while you explain this matter?" case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man ventilator." have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport *** START: FULL LICENSE *** ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the neither fascinating nor artistic." could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring thin, with a long, sharp nose?" It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "Did you observe the colour?" Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. in a friendly supper." out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the retorted upon me, and I on you." you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he back alive. I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she more solid." flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "To an end?" There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his right! Sit down and let us talk it over." peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every whereabouts. "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. searched, without anything being found which could incriminate broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "No." he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. http://gutenberg.net/license). "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in that I may have something better before very many minutes are Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "You are all wrong." thirty. first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There his fortune, and I went back to pa. few hundred pounds.' that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was most interesting one." that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not test if we have an answer to our advertisement." that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but galvanised. "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "Oh, the cause is excellent!" for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name goes." unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "I will, Miss Turner." asked. contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid miles off. upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the DAMAGE. "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute he died? "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "How on earth--" Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had "But to whom?" "Yes." glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "Entirely." We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that acquaintance?" peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so and the church but not where the lady lived." which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of papers on the sundial.'" "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a his huge brown hands. were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not him. before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into "But not more so than I to find you." stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "Yes." the armchair which I pushed forward for him. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project strong reason behind." together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a Watson," he said cordially. "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether the driver. gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll how narrow had been my escape. as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back remarked. and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for meanly of me." been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "Yesterday." Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "It is half-past ten now." "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "'Tell me all about it,' said I. skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "Can I be of assistance?" "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements feature." "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, to you." same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall through." window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "Breckinridge is his name." there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss voice, changing her seat as requested. and inquire as to the address." the warnings." "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at over his head with a sweet womanly caress. "Ten will be early enough." behind me. hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." business matters.' answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and Farm upon the left." you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. mystery may be cleared along those lines." possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "Witness: Nothing definite. of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "Then you may entirely rely on me." together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "And how did you find out?" which I could not give. He asked for Alice. endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, guilty one." believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the tell them apart.' interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an you give your casting vote to?" cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. to-night?' Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the all that?" introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "My dear Holmes!" glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in been deceived." "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, happened." straighten it?" refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical from you?" these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "Nothing." civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "But how will you look?" "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "'Ten to two.' She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, his grey eyes. Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." o'clock is it?" town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped showing my impatience. that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us.