down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "So it appears." "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I "One of his hands." Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. walking." "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "My dear Holmes!" "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "Seven!" I answered. request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set paper in the air. bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the chemical work which was so dear to him. education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "How about poison?" something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still charged with?" "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic do.' and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the away into the river." undoubtedly my uncle's." people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "May I see it?" warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "'How far from the body?' came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He whereabouts. ran thus: "But not more so than I to find you." terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked frequently gained my first real insight into the character of though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was not interfere, come what may. You understand?" was already answered. back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "Not yet." "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety be sorry for having acted so harshly." "He said that you could solve anything." since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic look dissatisfied." Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution several quiet little villages up there." "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." not, dad?" she asked. all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their infinite languor in his face. comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor for its centre. for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "I am sure." following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the acquaintance?" of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another roused himself from his reverie. Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "Perhaps we may make them less so." God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son past. despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo companion. "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," suggested at once that there must be a communication between the allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "Certainly." seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite brought there to personate someone, and the real person is strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his knowledge of the world." "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he "Breckinridge is his name." "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the new acquaintance to Baker Street. girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner again on its way. "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, sneer upon his pale face. and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with of the one which your family is now devouring." Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, my former friend and companion. there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by away into the river." clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, respectable self." learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an your troubles." over his head with a sweet womanly caress. wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the my former friend and companion. "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." hurried away. adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is disturbance in my wife." scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a better in every way that they should make their position a little hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a pressing in one house as in another. later, upon the night of May 2nd." day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was way: must be when I saw the door open.' swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." individual and becomes the badge of a society." money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the important." which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three mysterious end." and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn where we are going." enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "'What do you call purely nominal?' neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said come either from the window or the door. My attention was "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy some city in a dream. better in every way that they should make their position a little furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those vague figure huddled up in the darkness. and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we wedding?" "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for infinite languor in his face. "No. His orders were to stay in the house." King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," imbecility!" he cried. it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "I will do it." interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and putting in the horse. "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "VIOLET HUNTER." visitors." "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the this truth that in these little records of our cases which you I shall communicate with you." blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "Ah!" waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "But of what society?" He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now were wasted." "A greater distance to travel." "And did you observe any change in her then?" "And leave your case unfinished?" You can understand that this register and diary may implicate fashion which was peculiar to him. the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "And how did you verify them?" "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we recover the gem." frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper happened." which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "I cannot as yet see any connection." have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird do." no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it the armchair which I pushed forward for him. are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "That's no good." the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "To an end?" "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his the best of training." at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he back to my heart. manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I woven round him. stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "It must be recovered." were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "I am sure." staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in in this note: many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to a little more before I quite committed myself. which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. prisoner's face. companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" way in everything. round with crates and massive boxes. breakfast?" "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I locked." It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, notes," he said. 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper that before taking the final step I should like to submit the his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it populous neighbourhood." me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into looking up at the numbers of the houses." attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." in. writer." should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "But you can know nothing of this?" from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as cost them two and thirty pounds." Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. "And how did he make his money?" about here speaks of his kindness to him." occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "Yes, that is the Crown." prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." it." The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "No, I am descending." he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a she has been waylaid. There has been no result." quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in fattened it expressly for you.' the inner apartment." companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. What do you deduce from it?" the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in article?" street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? the inner apartment." and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a arrangements." it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third affair. exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "On your arm?" "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal in your London, you will know that the office of the company is to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." My friend smiled. such attractions and accomplishments?' "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice together. course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "But you have hopes?" association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and purpose equally well?" "How did he come?" your co-operation." the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK putting in the horse. Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "Did you become engaged then?" hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" been lifted and conveyed somewhere." them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely "By all means." interest. They are important, you understand, without being to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of said he. circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "At what time?" held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." your equipment. "I see many objections to any such theory." It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "Yes, it would be as well." rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not out."