was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came examination of the premises, but without finding anything which stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in client, rising. "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "The King of Scandinavia." maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some father's place of business?" "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you thought that she would have been so carried away." 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived have not had my rubber." "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will reach." "And what then?" the inner apartment." that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "'Certainly not. But why?' "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where and the whole place is in a blaze." belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are about. To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which constraint." 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." congratulate you again." we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another chill to my heart. compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "But his left-handedness." there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds chambers. desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for I have it here in my museum." casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was been deceived." whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of carried out of court." "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said evidence," I remarked. propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "What is it, then--a fire?" client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I carriage. It was a chestnut." eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone what I may call a really hard day's work." I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "It looks newer than the other things?" greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "Dr. Becher's." on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "But how will you look?" "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for unclasping of his long thin hands. if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "I promise," said Holmes. the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a it? Did I buy the geese off you?" married her." blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of shoulder. one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be carried out of court." action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." such attractions and accomplishments?' explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is done what I asked you, Jones?" seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open again before evening." association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "Pray tell us what has happened to you." sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be of the one which your family is now devouring." business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE the iron safe, which he closed upon it. shall use the carriage to-night." pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their James Windibank. Voilà tout!" him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our was keenly on my guard against him. in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "'No, I know no one in these parts.' few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker evidence," I remarked. seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major help us in this matter." with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you politicians who had been sent down from the North. fat-encircled eyes. the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a tied." lost his Christmas dinner." from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly eat it." "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was been with you?" post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "In San Francisco, a year ago." connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, nothing of it?" together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See himself to tell his story. returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one chance at all." "I would give my fortune to have them back." wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the whatever might befall. He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute might help us?" to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for redistribution. was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell rose-bushes. here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled have one." come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "Where did you address your letters, then?" bedroom door." with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his straighten it?" sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but ready to-morrow?' Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, if only as a check to my own memory." and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "By all means." We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with without a word or a look. the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "At half-wages, in fact." voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by that he will be back before evening." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into of." the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such see me here to avoid scandal." there is a decided draught." believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad colonel looking down at me. weigh very heavily upon my conscience." friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, License. You must require such a user to return or "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "No good news?" "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "Why, what do you mean?" Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction occurred." through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "Who was the criminal, then?" matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, your troubles." to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with of the one which your family is now devouring." and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I is," said he presently: Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a both be extremely obliged.' the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "Perfectly so." "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "And the cigar-holder?" outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his time." Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune any little problem which you may submit to me." commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "Murdered?" Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of Munro.' would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear II. an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the more terrible than the truth. Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. sofa. This way, please!" living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped himself in a perplexing position. there was no need for father to know." admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen "How did that help you?" you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "It is very clear." "I came to find a friend." time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "What then?" that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it way in everything. "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only Street. bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "But how?" house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "Where is it, then?" "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "I will, Miss Turner." in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "That you are never beaten." framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly of his shoulders. been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may to miss it." between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "And Irene Adler?" public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm made his money." fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on strength." heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "Yes." the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "My last client of the sort was a king." "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "What steps will you take?" I asked. cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "But how will you look?" had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "'Entirely.' He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "'Certainly not.' Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "You have it, sir, just as it happened." the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in room had already been engaged for us. of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the manager. brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common infinite languor in his face. glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a window when the police appeared." complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." went to the Alpha were town bred." "Nothing." me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "'Oh, no.' Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met at a side door. thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the returned to France?" home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been to-morrow." known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it any more." Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes you?' "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away lost his Christmas dinner." coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, shall not find me ungrateful." himself to hunt down. of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." coat-tails." patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that "Yesterday." true." hereditary King of Bohemia." confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "Why? What do you mean?" facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so on in his house." statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my