"Thank you. Pray proceed." SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and Have you good authority for what you say?" direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too woman who has had her own way to make in the world. examine." and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the unprecedented a position." Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "And how?" "BALLARAT." have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "We must have a cab." them present such singular features as the strange train of Dr. Gregory B. Newby case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "That is possible." like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up matter over." only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest of the one which your family is now devouring." "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "Whose house is it?" young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found Miss Holder?" perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire again before evening." "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters must compliment you." "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "Then I can wait in the next room." WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to Heh?' and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who been deceived." "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual that threaten you." "'I have heard so.' place of silver." very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have "'Is 4 pounds a week.' upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I weapon." surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny crowd. half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was voice. Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary it." finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into danger is over." presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the suggested at once that there must be a communication between the stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was will be renamed. brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a "By no means." evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, your Highness to the police-station?" light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "What can it mean?" I gasped. once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after way in." believe that I should never have any practice at all. the driver. despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. will find little credit to be gained out of this case." somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we eat it." hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "Then how many are there?" "The gentleman I describe." I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "'A dozen yards or so.' of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his all?" had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "Precisely so. But how--" "What is it?" "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "One horse?" interjected Holmes. which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant nothing with him." astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him train.' He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "Yes." methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the which we had just quitted. photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am returned to France?" "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must interest. They are important, you understand, without being considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up results." and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few conceal it?" prison!" say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has fatally injured? Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. and your relations to her." while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "She walked into the breakfast-room." up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "It is possible." "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "I am about to be married." "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has he bowed and left the room without another word. golden eyeglasses. the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "Precisely." "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "'Not at all. I only doubt--' roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person into the bag, and made for the door. charged with?" thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover detained." be.' eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the tell him that I know him to be innocent." very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to "Why did you beat the pavement?" lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something bedroom door." "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the thirty. sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "The decline of his fortunes, then?" prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with completely overtopped every other consideration that we both controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "I cannot tell." "'I am sure if I had known--' "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "Then how many are there?" opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just I nodded again. silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. said I. "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "You have compromised yourself seriously." "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was said he. little adventures." green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an "I never have." observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for but preventing her from injuring another. salesman. "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "Dr. Becher's." while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "'I have heard so.' that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? just ask you whether you had heard it.' the loss of it. "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "What!" he roared. with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "When did she vanish, then?" that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the results." stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading must be when I saw the door open.' interests were the same as his." the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a bird I ate is country bred." conceal it?" "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "But the mystery?" this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the directors have had misgivings upon the subject." all that?" "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "'Which dealer's?' hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have Holmes." which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, unkempt, staring out at me. you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a The police have openly confessed that they can at present make letters?" before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "No." The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his careless servant girl?" this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "What I expected to see." Holmes." go from here to the Strand." nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "'I shall certainly be there.' Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "But your client--" from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would and put his glass in his pocket. to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us investigation." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth delirious. Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no ways of our fellow-men." "'Ten to two.' loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" what do you think they found in the pockets?" Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with dramatic, in fact." "It is his hat." myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a washing it down with a long draught of water. it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "And how did you verify them?" thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I "Nothing?" whereabouts. so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "I don't say that. Perhaps." houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "Frequently." charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, exactly what you advise." a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely several quiet little villages up there." "What then?" "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." again." wife's character?" disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what thirty. public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed where Mr. Fordham shows you.' clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the letters?" about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "My own seal." "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was highly," said Holmes. heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has gone. bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "It was a confession," I ejaculated. pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "I cannot as yet see any connection." that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "And who is her maid?" "Where, indeed?" VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "Only as much as we can deduce." vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to before, for it was considerably after midnight. "The Cedars?" untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in could go. cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could me. the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it to talk it over. "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the not come at once?" but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "'I am sure if I had known--' to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "Can I be of assistance?" "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past gone. her also." for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, article?" All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us was the fact that his father should, according to his account, she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her DISSOLVED. assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "What shall I do?" us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "What! a murderous attack?" the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is Eyford." "Look there!" said he. used to be." there." "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in take the flies, but not before." "Never." "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "'A dozen yards or so.' yards of it?' enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so so.' "I have seen the police." shall use the carriage to-night." "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing a monotonous occupation." the Assizes." had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "'Which dealer's?' "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle flock.' however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. fuss that is made over them." "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I down. I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor,