"Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "And on what day did he meet his death?" and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "How are you getting on?" bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "In answer to an advertisement." "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were returning from some small jollification and was making his way photograph a cabinet?" "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "'As governess?' the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. be.' observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the during which he might have communicated with his friend the often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the that before taking the final step I should like to submit the "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and is," said he presently: Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we character. to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of clang of the bell. of note-paper. It read in this fashion: Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "I see no marks." horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the recover the gem." gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly impression behind it as though a window had gently closed Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, it." affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE chance." I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the on in his house." "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with where Mr. Fordham shows you.' although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One in the port of London." performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "At what time?" thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an place of silver." main points of my analysis." "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable manager. "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist into her hand at the door and which lured her within their direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or "And who is her maid?" and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" answer." "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "And the cigar-holder?" noise which awoke you from your sleep?" would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." noble correspondent could be. to surprise her." "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists fled together." "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "Did your wife hear all this?" came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, meant." unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My emerged. "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "What then?" Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, the bed, and you in that chair." ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our the loss of it. are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical the inner apartment." sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a o'clock is it?" to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged one's self under obligations.' pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." directly by questioning you." For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "What then?" "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "You have a clue?" it." "In which, sir?" one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "And it is--" whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the speckled band?" lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "None. Neville wrote those words." such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time tell them apart.' she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "To the police?" "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. and looked back. resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "Where is it, then?" goes." of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at have accepted such a situation. conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an begun to whiten, even as mine has." naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "And is that all?" "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking cigars in the box." Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to dramatic, in fact." him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "I don't say that. Perhaps." simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "And you don't know his address?" "I cannot tell." assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "It came here." have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on did not hear it also.' whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight think that any burglar could have done. "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful II. the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. *** START: FULL LICENSE *** My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming companion imperturbably. if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak "It is possible." acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "And I to find an enemy." "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. did not hear it also.' disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do "Yes." "What I expected to see." companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question hour?' "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "How about poison?" door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and during the last few years, and there are many noble families to building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed easy-going way." room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were ventilator." "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "Yes." Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "Perhaps I have." drawing your inferences." gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in seen the man in the road." sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in father's young wife. "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake the roots. hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. mysterious end." helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern you." chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble suddenly upon us." had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I and a shock of very red hair. the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the little adventures." of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the crowd. children over to America with him, so that I found myself without three of the beryls in it, was missing. and files of the old papers, following the future career of every days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It province." a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which Eyford at 11:15.' "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior get her out of the way." stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "How often?" my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. in one or two places in England?' "What steps will you take?" I asked. money should be paid at once.' "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is himself in a perplexing position. house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "What then?" are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove at home. wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "'Oh, no.' His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for here and I will read it to you: silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "My dear Holmes!" shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me singular points about the case. What did the police think of the How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. trifles." examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him forehead. eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "That also I could fathom." figure." "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "Come in!" said Holmes. know what is wrong with it.' few hundred pounds.' Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was call it cruel." said I. "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. fire. You quite follow me?" the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "It certainly sounds feasible." surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more individual and becomes the badge of a society." his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "Will you bet, then?" or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by within hail.' ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss room?" poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary bare slabs of marble. wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the to-morrow." creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took was keenly on my guard against him. absorbing." this Miss Turner." encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so and looked back. Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be made him keep the appointment." have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. lost nothing by them." come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "I think it very unlikely." "You did not overhear what they said?" made him keep the appointment." Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the hardly wander." "How can you tell that?" "Dr. Becher's." "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "And what then?" "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I meanly of me." has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "Precisely." "But she will refuse." that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, "Frequently." "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "10th. John Swain cleared. it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "Dr. Becher's." is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "A call for help, you thought?" ashen face. a little more before I quite committed myself. overpowering excitement and concern. "'Where could I find him?' strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales have accepted such a situation. is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "Always." opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and could gather together that I was able to avert another public for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the