of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "That sounds a little paradoxical." "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." place, I think that there is good ground to think that the long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand all?" putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such Eyford." he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see hurried by. know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" excitement. week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. think you a quite exceptional woman." 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him prepare for the new role I have to play." the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, I nodded again. "But she will refuse." address. instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We unkempt, staring out at me. editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell grasp, he hurried from the room. week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, "I will try. What is it?" Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just companion imperturbably. which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "I should be immensely obliged to you." the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." bill, which interests me deeply." were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others begin with, and I had not got mine yet." quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. Doctor, of the paper and the date." In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." ago." "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "Certainly." "What will you say?" in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know this Miss Turner." reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the that threaten you." from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "No." simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "Then, how do you know?" wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "And on what day did he meet his death?" good for you to do.' method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' your sleep?' other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "'No, I know no one in these parts.' situation." "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this acquaintance?" be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "At half-wages, in fact." smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying breakfast?" his face which made him a very different person to the round, "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black later, upon the night of May 2nd." collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic it. article?" business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do searched, without anything being found which could incriminate down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather will not take me long to tell. "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "It must be recovered." would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the recover the gem." possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "I don't say that. Perhaps." cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I and the whole place is in a blaze." child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "One of the highest in England." home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "'Stolen!' he cried. light and attacked it." America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." sufficient punishment." Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a go--none." the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable me. You must get home instantly and act." clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" most interesting one." that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one upon the white wrist. "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms events, Mr. Windibank!" "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "Your French gold?" seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy morning." dead, shall be safe with us." rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers to-night?' stalked out of the room. triumphant cloud from his cigarette. As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing than was visible to me." "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him learned something! Where are the gems?" troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "I will try. What is it?" sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at disappearance of the bride.'" once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said rose-bushes. the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid photograph a cabinet?" the salesman. "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." along the entire front of the house, with three long windows That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we bears upon the case?" my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was might have a private word with us. the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to is worth.' had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' said he. chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. with you alone." on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." there when the Rucastles went away." of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with mystery." side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something you do it in twenty minutes!' "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young that I can to serve you." lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of arrangements." "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers how narrow had been my escape. and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with for and were ordered to this address. To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant to tackle the facts." research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do him!" "How on earth--" Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass as he remarks, very much against the son." conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "Will you go?" speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good despaired of." a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and forecastle of an emigrant ship. nonsense.' round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "No good news?" pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror fluttered off among the others. whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." villagers almost as much as their master. carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I morning." "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the companion quietly. Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "Proceed, then." with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I cigars in the box." "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "But how?" wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing nights." and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "And you don't know his address?" fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense photograph?" flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my gone. souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. bare slabs of marble. "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. call for protection in the marriage market, for the present where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety the ceiling. "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we "Of what day?" would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "She walked into the breakfast-room." cigar and let me expound." some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings my special province." anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of and the church but not where the lady lived." arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "In answer to an advertisement." down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will extraordinary contortions. room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at "Pray tell us what has happened to you." red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "What do you mean?" work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. down. ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "The knees of his trousers." cost them two and thirty pounds." with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "Pray continue your narrative." Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia goes." disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." in a friendly supper." you found me to-night--and running through the front room she a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "She will not sell." have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of some mystery and the punishment of some crime." and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a introspective fashion. would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, friends, not even his own brother. everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, status with the IRS. spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "And how did you find out?" "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little once more. brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "Your presence might be invaluable." peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was attention." "On Monday." "Very well, sir. And this stone?"