LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. during the last few years, and there are many noble families to He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the and capable of preserving a secret.' public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his detained." "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "Dr. Becher's." "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable national property. I was determined that the law should have its Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long introspective fashion. lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a populous neighbourhood." impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an know all about it," he snarled. And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in forebodings. The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said any more." impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a window when the police appeared." I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a very morning of my second wedding." Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted was shining brightly. We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward purpose of examination. putting in the horse. "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of "You saw the ventilator, too?" "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "Yes." in this way: honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "It missed him, then?" the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case photograph a cabinet?" surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had of the efforts of the United States government and of the better connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a place of silver." about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt intrusion of other matters." infinite languor in his face. perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood results." very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant an introduction to him?" "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing the south-west, I see." gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, carpenter." "But you can know nothing of this?" As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "You have it, sir, just as it happened." friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore one's self under obligations.' bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "And how?" astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. towards the blaze. of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. Holmes' thin, eager face. and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "But you were on a friendly footing?" Heh?' the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "'I am sure that I do not know.' British peeress.'" St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and coat-tails." I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair in him." "We must have a cab." Foundation dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" an introduction to him?" undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. you give your casting vote to?" professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a "I cannot imagine." want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business woman who has had her own way to make in the world. begun to whiten, even as mine has." "How about poison?" "And your mother is alive?" lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to bill, which interests me deeply." instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, you give your casting vote to?" showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "That is it on the dressing-table." and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "'Never.' "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several absolutely follow my advice in every respect." drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "One of the highest in England." is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "Will you bet, then?" too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "Which are?" "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." away in different directions, and I went off to make my own saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable exactly what you advise." unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "None." its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my hard-headed British jury." Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "By no means." "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to against a man in the prime of life?" really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "But his lameness?" writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "Not him." for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "It is solved." quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four coat-tails." served to weaken the effect. pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "It is possible." the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "I am about to be married." "The decline of his fortunes, then?" to affect your life." outside." said I. even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special as this. Pray let me have the details." "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "Bought." themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "None." "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' I nodded again. I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "Have you her photograph?" Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than friend's singular character. greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's was already answered. silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' helping a boy to put up the shutters. rose-bushes. right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may present strange and interesting features that it is no easy shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some experiences." gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our depend upon my doing so.' "Who was the criminal, then?" "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "Yes." doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, happened." entirely lost his self-respect." "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in his forehead." and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace the south-west, I see." "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut returned to France?" daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, a few minutes he said that it would be all right. stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "Certainly." "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the in one or two places in England?' rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical pierced for earrings?" fact, we may call it conclusive." with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose hurried away. threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by you in yours." 1.E.9. deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of as yours." "I see many objections to any such theory." quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my Farm upon the left." there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any unclasping of his long thin hands. better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I good-night and bustled off upon her way. crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to question," said Holmes, smiling. "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "It was an hour's good drive." "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts strode off upon his way. Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. you for a few hours?" I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so leaning back in his chair. so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "Married! When?" have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs one of the states of the Union." "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost my secret was safe in his possession. wedding?" "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "Perfectly so." searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "It looks newer than the other things?" should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my his face which made him a very different person to the round, have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "'It is locked up,' I answered. "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such laugh and put his lips to my ear. There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the presented more singular features than that which was associated line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. it? Did I buy the geese off you?" fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly that you saw all that I did." hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him locked. "He said that you could solve anything." presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "You heard nothing yourself last night?" Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for Eyford at 11:15.' fashion which was peculiar to him. well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face conceal it?" wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the the bottom.' "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately bill, which interests me deeply." along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora more solid." then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how what I may call a really hard day's work." to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her "Very much so." "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep discontent upon his features. my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending had this final quarrel? the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "Certainly." "Certainly." Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" taking in every detail of the apartment. a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again.