present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a ordinary clothes on?" "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "That sounds a little paradoxical." side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the have not had my rubber." woman." confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out to have that photograph." "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is Lee, in the county of Kent." He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "But you were on a friendly footing?" there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "It must be recovered." him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be ran thus: "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the conceal it?" assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "I answered that I had not. of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too an introduction to him?" "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "Well, some hundreds of times." the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe main points of my analysis." "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." could not have written that. It is the German who is so thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "Yes, that is the Crown." Pope's Court. black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the papers must be those that are destroyed.' without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you instituted." which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action but preventing her from injuring another. "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were if I call to-morrow?" chill to my heart. "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have down in his armchair and closing his eyes. jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" so far?" snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "Then how many are there?" story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "It goes to the housekeeper's room." over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which been anything against him. He had for years been known as a We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the and wait." young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed into her hand at the door and which lured her within their explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said leave you to your papers for a little." "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. vague figure huddled up in the darkness. sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are round and wave him away like that.' "Very well, sir. And this stone?" to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very seem to you to be relevant or not." taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which throat." say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until the coronet at all injured?" the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found posted to-day." "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are business." that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "Which are?" As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "Well, it is a possible supposition." "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently you." also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they "I am in hopes that she does." "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of this remarkable episode. all-comprehensive glances. Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in directors, with the result that you have seen." desk. "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "But we can't all be." know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "'Quite sure, dad.' have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a works. See paragraph 1.E below. effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "'There is a drive, then?' "How often?" outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an this Miss Turner." Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Literary Archive Foundation "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "Yes." since then to throw any light upon what became of him." her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "And leave your case unfinished?" "Which surely he restored to their owner?" all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "She showed me, as I told you she would." "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" said I. We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "Why did you beat the pavement?" Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock other means.' Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help horse could go." business?" "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the way in." written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope his grey eyes. "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at weighed down with some great anxiety. simple cases which are so extremely difficult." electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback of it with the greatest attention. "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back manager. 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "It is true that I have been generally successful." photograph a cabinet?" singular points about the case. What did the police think of the endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he he died? the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "Yes, sir." brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I chambers. livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning if she died from some sudden fright." so far?" Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "That is unusual in a young girl." examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of point our research must commence, and we will begin it by a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but sneer upon his pale face. Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "We must sit without light. He would see it through the the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a wanted for ourselves." a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell certainly do as you advise." course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William it with his own hands." occurred." controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I had picked up in the wood. has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "I will do it." "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." disturbance in my wife." "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." I. "Where did he live, then?" Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be help us in this matter." valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was that you wished to speak to me?' has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "Won't it ring?" "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "'Where could I find him?' broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" dead, shall be safe with us." since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "Absolutely?" opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable During two years I have had three consultations and one small before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project cheerful." to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. License. You must require such a user to return or He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "I have my revolver," said I. important." think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. him!" think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "What?" have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me very morning of my second wedding." It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "No, finished." dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your you?' 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his Eyford at 11:15.' Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not she to prove their authenticity?" "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler III. down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a stood on the top of it. "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more so far?" a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "What?" confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "Is he quiet?" just called myself is not exactly my own." Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, presented more singular features than that which was associated The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and points to suicide?" in his hands." hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions "Witness: It was. I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "You know me, then?" face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter was lame." his forehead." "Witness: Nothing definite. for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder,