repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was characteristics, but those are the more obvious." *** START: FULL LICENSE *** upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell not fit the lock." a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower success. "'Then let me do so?' a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to served to weaken the effect. he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "The vanishing of the lady." believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "Come in!" said he. while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "Could he throw no light?" made his money." the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall purpose equally well?" work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at answer." threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day ways of our fellow-men." how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." this as likely?" into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to be best to do. exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in way in everything. "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt business." conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its three of the beryls in it, was missing. forbidden door. "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "We must have a cab." science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was in the port of London." without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my cigars in the box." "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "No, finished." grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard come either from the window or the door. My attention was "I was mad--insane." eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the thin legs towards the fire. "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the breakfast?" In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I gone before you can get him to hospital." dramatic, in fact." "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking lids now and glanced across at his visitor. my room." 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "But to whom?" "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the kindly on the shoulder. "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "It is his hat." to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "Why did you pick him?" after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before national property. I was determined that the law should have its "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of indiscretion." "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "I see no marks." his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "VIOLET HUNTER." it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "And Irene Adler?" Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with me. belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet to surprise her." and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "On Monday." "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of leave you to your papers for a little." against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long so far?" "Were they all fastened this morning?" his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all frequently gained my first real insight into the character of it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" awaited us upon the table. "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the in a very precise fashion." to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the beyond words. steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their if only as a check to my own memory." struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "What, then, did Peterson do?" License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. conversation I have gathered that they have been married about every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "No, distinctly professional." "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" "Where to?" conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "Was she in good spirits?" toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "By no means." electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in at my own good fortune. nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "Then the page we have seen--" people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this kindly on the shoulder. erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. used to be." garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "And what did you see?" "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. crackling voice. while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, carriage. It was a chestnut." whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "'And what salary do you ask?' baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "Pray do so." VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and hair?' sneer upon his pale face. certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a arms and began to sob in a high treble key. might have a private word with us. We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way of the way of danger. all that?" Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "Was your sister dressed?" him to go away.' present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" The King stared at him in amazement. prison!" "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my bedroom door." standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the upon an income of about 60 pounds." she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss "'Yes, it was gone.' eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast swore that no one else had been in the front room during the veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the you?' "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering "I should like to see him very much." new duties?' still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but less than 26s. 4d. untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "I am to be neutral?" to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "We have tried and failed." 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a tension within him. got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" the running down." passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this closely." if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but your sleep?' "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "Her father is very rich?" "We must have a cab." Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward better in every way that they should make their position a little would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "I was certainly surprised to find you there." success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat not within a twentieth part of the market price." "I will try. What is it?" which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his read it out to me." find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. opened a pocket-book and took out a note. his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. present." particular state visit http://pglaf.org never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "You saw the ventilator, too?" the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the whatever might befall. office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a opened the door, and slipped through. me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that the address that was given us in the advertisement. herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "10th. John Swain cleared. all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the in darkness. and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he Sutherland. smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but papers diligently of late, have you not?" "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and occurred." trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "How on earth--" "And now?" He raised his hand. existence." the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't sound at heart." and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "I promise," said Holmes. "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "It certainly sounds feasible." season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it time." set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the was feeling which was the fattest.' "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of tail." very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "'There is a drive, then?' there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "They are typewritten," I remarked. would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the and prosperity to your house. Good-night." Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in charge against him will break down." which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "Did you observe the colour?" dear old homesteads?" was feeling which was the fattest.' "'I have heard so.' heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may business matters.' "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "None. Neville wrote those words." fatally injured? drove away. ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age tell me that you intended to go into harness." "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it shall not find me ungrateful." both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the room. tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall with frightened eyes at his accuser. "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back you for a few hours?" my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated