Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." throat." "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his introspective fashion. "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "Yes." creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "And how in the world did you find them?" could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. papers on the sundial.'" very old mansion. present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the row." asked. think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely to you." cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall I am not easy in my mind about them." for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers garden below. of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. the room while you explain this matter?" some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a upon an income of about 60 pounds." Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "What! a murderous attack?" cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "Did you observe the colour?" my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." girl said." Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I been deceived." Serpentine Avenue. much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "Never." "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish face and glided from the room. in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "She will not sell." to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "VIOLET HUNTER." made his money." "Yes, certainly." our word." Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "And I." with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "It is very kind of you." the one as in the other." away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "I say it is." have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "What can you not understand?" him." tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and where Mr. Fordham shows you.' generous with you in money matters.' road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an with you?" "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The and the colonel ushered me in. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "You'll never persuade me to believe that." business at Coburg Square is serious." "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the were new raised from a basin. landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "That's no good." "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" figure." While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have "What then?" is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to interests were the same as his." It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "That is easily got." "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "Dark enough and sinister enough." fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that 1.E.9. "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "But who is he?" her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "Stoke Moran?" said he. drawing your inferences." face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial of Mr. Rucastle's." rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what me. defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." child?' "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," unprofitable." he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke you for a few hours?" before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us to take care of herself." fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot manager. "Pray let us have it, for all that." princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the details." "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do of." Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" is now desirous of getting those letters back." "And how did you find out?" found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "Then how many are there?" "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen present strange and interesting features that it is no easy mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." all that?" "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who man. "There are none." use an arc-and-compass breastpin." commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left back to my heart. above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, go from here to the Strand." have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "To the police?" of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. of the one which your family is now devouring." bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be remarked. some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and straighten it?" had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, writers could invent nothing more crude." Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I them?" solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "Did you become engaged then?" "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No to his chemical studies. your co-operation." "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his make me his representative both with the servants and with the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted closing the door. as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family From what you have told me I think that it is possible that how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed absorbing." dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have strong reason behind." "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the salesman. saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little most interesting one." "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, mystery." "A call for help, you thought?" my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle Farm upon the left." against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally fatally injured? cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "Yes, from Horsham." bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "I think that it is very probable." and wait." having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." once more on the important position which you have been fortunate carried out of court." "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project was keenly on my guard against him. "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, any little problem which you may submit to me." "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "In the cells." even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would or in danger--" Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "It was." was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional was a lad." "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in intrusion of other matters." shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "Ah!" of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "Can I be of assistance?" are, and they are waiting for us." Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "Certainly." Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a geese which you supplied to the Alpha." gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "What do you mean?" creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to green of the new foliage. "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that read it out to me." Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would nice household for a young lady." "How can you tell that?" himself to hunt down. least a most suspicious remark." "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. brain must have something in it." "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some me. You must get home instantly and act." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and went to the Alpha were town bred." as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, one of the states of the Union." "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." evidence," I remarked. "No, I think that I'll take it." was the fact that his father should, according to his account, should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "Of Friday, June 19th." Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had fuss that is made over them." who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "My dear Holmes!" his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well certainly do as you advise." as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "What! You do not mean bodies?" for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign case-book, which he consulted. say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a the night.' having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. completely overtopped every other consideration that we both passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "'I shall certainly be there.' the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "It was an hour's good drive." which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from You want to know what became of those geese?" "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock intimate personal affairs in this public manner." cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "Have you her photograph?" of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all very morning of my second wedding." have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided sparkled upon his finger. "That is unusual in a young girl." glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "Proceed, then." to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might is a common subject for conversation. "Yes." Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows "Seven!" I answered. near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by despaired of." However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its experiences." to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE carpenter." "And who is her maid?" In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "Whose house is it?" will take you up to see the machine.' Sholtos." when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the morning." "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the thin legs towards the fire. took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "To an English lawyer named Norton." behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when said Mr. Holder. "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should within hail.' considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. felt the room to be a little close.' banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "But you have hopes?" do.' pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no mysterious end." gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "The best possible." beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign