her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some several quiet little villages up there." see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "'I shall certainly be there.' eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate arrested. You then--" "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' it were putty." that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such with some details as to your case." "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass points to suicide?" and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I assist you in forming an opinion." International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, said he. but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, It was close upon four before the door opened, and a every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the are, and they are waiting for us." "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's all?" If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "He disappeared so suddenly." Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "You horrify me!" reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "No, my brougham is waiting." Leadenhall Street--and--" the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies as this. Pray let me have the details." is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen "How often?" Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was upon the white wrist. springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped one else, I think." down in his armchair and closing his eyes. first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got business at Coburg Square is serious." listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "Was he the only applicant?" window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your on in his house." to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of there were so many in the whole country as were brought together inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been corner of the building. the little opening for the ventilator is." woman." That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "That is unusual in a young girl." Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "'You cannot say what it was?' invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." Where does the thing come from?' pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over it. act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "I know where it is." contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "What have you to say now?" Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "Yes." "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in What do you deduce from it?" "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "When did she vanish, then?" burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must one's self under obligations.' would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for country, and eventually married, without anyone having a License. You must require such a user to return or morning." instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down astonishment. preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. *** START: FULL LICENSE *** Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, she has been waylaid. There has been no result." reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. copied or distributed: calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." in his power. "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open over his head with a sweet womanly caress. "The murder was done with it." front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "Pray continue your narrative." mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not and a shock of very red hair. writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." points to suicide?" eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "My last client of the sort was a king." "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point and that he would see to anything that turned up. donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be morning." and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, you." London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were there was no need for father to know." "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "The King of Scandinavia." "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, to where he stood hid behind the curtain. as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "I should like to see him very much." "Witness: Nothing definite. test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to your sleep?' "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the paper in the air. dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us here." and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "Have you her photograph?" he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon question," said Holmes, smiling. the very morning of the wedding." "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last me upon any point which I do not make clear." on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business voice, changing her seat as requested. It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "To ruin me." "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your that before taking the final step I should like to submit the "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the to-morrow." The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have think, you have already met." creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in "'And the work?' all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view his face. "Nothing?" "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "And I to find an enemy." can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any the salesman. through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from carpenter." the devil!" "By all means." his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "What shall I do?" clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" your troubles." traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking III. a good hundred miles off by now." "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" society." "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it it means?" Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that bled considerably." burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have the roots. perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "Yes." "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "My photograph." "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' client, rising. does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls know all about it," he snarled. chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "You don't mind breaking the law?" yourselves in at night?" Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. my special province." I am not easy in my mind about them." "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham is," said he presently: ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She only touch the interest." even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying This is what he says: "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." answer." house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the chair. ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other door?" passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it Henry Baker is a member." misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may with the outside air!" been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." with her." My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic fire. You quite follow me?" the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." wanted for ourselves." look upon these things in a different way." those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly himself to tell his story. "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. and glanced through. police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which whether it answered to the description of any of their You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where joking. had no one to advise her at such a crisis." come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in British peeress.'" ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "An enemy?" "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "My Mary? Impossible!" "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, know all about it," he snarled. Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "Not social, then?" without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to pressing in one house as in another. "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "No, my brougham is waiting." This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "Well, it is a possible supposition." The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little how narrow had been my escape. brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new outside. that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "'It is locked up,' I answered. "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't strong reason behind." "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the man. I know him from the photograph." "There is the writing." whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless "She told me to ask you." see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I silent! Oh, he will be silent!' murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "I promise," said Holmes. suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us