"You were travelling in the States?" the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "Where, then, is my wife?" Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a McCarthy." maid will bring up your coffee." eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most upon a handsome competence. door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an go from here to the Strand." and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under the bottom.' preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very is acting for the best. "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." the inquest, and which are worth considering." shaken than I had ever seen him. have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. the very morning of the wedding." had a long day." We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the mysterious business." breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." drawing your inferences." enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "He disappeared so suddenly." that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "I think that I had better go, Holmes." society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in tapping his fingers upon the table. "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "But his lameness?" lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to asked with his eyes open. if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in get her out of the way." be. on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way must be when I saw the door open.' and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman memory. "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" that there was nothing in it, after all." "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "Which surely he restored to their owner?" whether it answered to the description of any of their "Yes." suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I copied or distributed: coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, there were one or two details which were new to me. But the above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "Yes." I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur soul! here is her carriage at the door." noise which awoke you from your sleep?" himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "And the cigar-holder?" my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others Henry Baker is a member." twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she the dangers which encompass me." "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. annoyance, but no jest. scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, present strange and interesting features that it is no easy have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler your only hope of safety." actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to ways including including checks, online payments and credit card him!" my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the entirely lost his self-respect." who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two Sutherland. past. "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were letters?" hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. have established a very serious case against the son of the while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the me. hopeless attempt at recovering them." I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our matter." it. opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the a good hundred miles off by now." photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. burst into a hearty fit of laughter. all-comprehensive glances. work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in said Mr. Holder. edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and whereabouts. fact, we may call it conclusive." any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly the Assizes." in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "Yes." Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would putting in the horse. after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George with you?" many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and gone before you can get him to hospital." "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not interested in these little problems, and since you are good five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. said Mr. Holder. avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one chill to my heart. Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "I have my revolver," said I. shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had astonishment. lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in galvanised. little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped distance from the station, and there we found the young lady it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that closely." make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled goes." which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "Absolutely?" should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to for and were ordered to this address. She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man I approached. that, and I came down." Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up was used.' description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "Perhaps we may make them less so." "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "I was afraid that you were engaged." strong reason behind." The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as the very letters. But what is this written above them?' disappearance of these gems?" have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his that I can to serve you." trying to your nerves." happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "Certainly." passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "At the wedding breakfast." "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "I do." 1.E.9. office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. appeared upon the scene." If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into you." "I beg pardon." "I will not look." conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would carriage. It was a chestnut." into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "Perhaps we may make them less so." soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the again before evening." "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is girl said." "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "But how will you look?" is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a do.' that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "'Where to?' clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "'Never,' said I. "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our detective. It may be so in this case, also." meant." like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." were new raised from a basin. "Imitated." Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel is worth.' "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very "Why, it's a dummy," said he. back alive. have I gained?" of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "'What, the red-headed man?' "But it has twice been burgled." and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our said he, "my real name is James Ryder." see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging it means?" unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "An accident, I presume?" other means.' wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save said Mr. Holder. same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "But how will you look?" "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying goes." France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place noise which awoke you from your sleep?" Gutenberg-tm License. to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was his face which made him a very different person to the round, "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "Nothing?" red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with locked." explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "Then he might have called to you?" tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as it. experiences." "None." bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door any little problem which you may submit to me." prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "Yes, certainly." "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and heavy and sharp instrument." course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the that the gas is not laid on in his house?" fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "'Most admirably.' admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet Dr. Gregory B. Newby Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. "Then what has happened to him?" He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your distinguish the words: unclasping of his long thin hands. take the flies, but not before." deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, three of the beryls in it, was missing. down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "No, distinctly professional." miles off. not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "But of what society?" money should be paid at once.' before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, your Highness to the police-station?" alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society Leadenhall Street--and--" "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so him!" "She told me to ask you." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "When did she vanish, then?" inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after throat." pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "Precisely." surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "You did not overhear what they said?" of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and of Fenchurch Street."