the armchair which I pushed forward for him. our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "Absolutely none." work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be nonsense.' jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "I cannot imagine." wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry address. "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it 'please.'" "Just look it up, then." in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly Again Holmes raved in the air. "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "Nothing?" not, dad?" she asked. against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "I see many objections to any such theory." looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand we went to search for him, face downward in a little turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than are, and they are waiting for us." who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "I do." Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "Of Friday, June 19th." "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I husband's writing, madam." voice. reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "Has he come with you to-night?" London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen "Texas, I think." suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by guilty one." given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." and no precautions can guard against." conceal it?" "I shall be delighted." door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up it." word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of nights." to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and which was all perfectly true. an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "BALLARAT." tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "Whose house is it?" Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." learned something! Where are the gems?" "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He Leave Paddington by the 11:15." happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual dramatic, in fact." from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish paper in the air. the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I speckled band?" of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who make me his representative both with the servants and with the to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "Not yet." understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so and laid it on the table. the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "'Yes, sir.' your equipment. But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to my room." "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you lamp. "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most cup of tea. Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight to Leatherhead. lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my galvanised. police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first mysterious end." flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." my room." yourselves in at night?" grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she me upon any point which I do not make clear." "And when will you call?" Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "Entirely." connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a straightened it out again. metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close walking." "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' the station." works. See paragraph 1.E below. "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the hurried away. bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me did not hear it also.' but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these "'Yes.' "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "And your mother is alive?" you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a Project Gutenberg-tm works. the coroner come to?" London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which all-comprehensive glances. play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "And now?" I asked. wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of thirty. no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "And you don't know his address?" hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most events than those which have happened in my own family." such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to wanted for ourselves." Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party Doctor, of the paper and the date." "It came here." my friend's incisive reasoning. better in every way that they should make their position a little Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "'I have already given you my word.' will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, asked. assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better dead, shall be safe with us." a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the ourselves in the office." brain must have something in it." said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money is," said he presently: and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying Gutenberg-tm License. money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with have accepted such a situation. We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, instituted." scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." mystery may be cleared along those lines." "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took where she found matters as described by the last witness. however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, know what is wrong with it.' direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "Where, then, is my wife?" platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in and have this put in the evening papers." stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate may never be exposed to such a temptation." these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "But what is it you wish?" and your relations to her." to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to third from London." "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. maiden herself was most instructive." steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "'Where to?' be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must the child." flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." congratulate you again." the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "Perfectly so." you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "The gentleman I describe." his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying you in yours." reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing unclasping of his long thin hands. Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I been shamefully used." and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save of them has the shutters up.' Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the goes." lips." already referred to. 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, unclasping of his long thin hands. his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the ill-usage at the hands of fortune. edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily that you wished to speak to me?' analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "I cannot imagine." crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and asked. withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "How many? I don't know." of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not it." besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me and shall probably return to London by the evening train." old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "You are certainly joking, Holmes." I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' eat it." rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do delirious. London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their Eyford." "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with had a long day." considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and go back?" American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the rose-bushes. call for protection in the marriage market, for the present was it brought him the coronet? silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, brandy and water within his reach. and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is there in twenty minutes." "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "So it appears." VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that more solid." "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. in this note: for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious returning from some small jollification and was making his way My friend smiled. little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily strode off upon his way. this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, will take you up to see the machine.' tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my "Then the page we have seen--" style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to