call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "Who by?" controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I believe that I should never have any practice at all. "We must have a cab." possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "'There is a drive, then?' dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "Certainly." "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such such person." prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I must be when I saw the door open.' out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from secret." Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a "My Mary? Impossible!" This is what he says: "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. been with you?" step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire Have you good authority for what you say?" persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "Yes, I have one waiting." All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present enter Dr. Roylott's room." charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather straighten it?" cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel into her hand at the door and which lured her within their signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "You forget that I know nothing about it." never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce Henry Baker is a member." "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." seven miles from Eyford Station.' "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, had no one to advise her at such a crisis." already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "Pray do so." weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven more terrible than the truth. bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. opened a pocket-book and took out a note. finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. crowd. endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. very old mansion. case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down Watson," he said cordially. making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man spark where all is dark to me." it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We daring than any effort of the imagination." "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "It is possible." brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into conversation I have gathered that they have been married about wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One flock.' "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "Absolutely none." who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the both be extremely obliged.' must be when I saw the door open.' George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "Why, what do you mean?" those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in was keenly on my guard against him. convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had paper in the air. get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that bled considerably." death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "So I heard. You have him here?" doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" at my own good fortune. great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "I would give my fortune to have them back." in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still make me his representative both with the servants and with the say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of of them has the shutters up.' "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "The knees of his trousers." Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you some city in a dream. that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you begin with, and I had not got mine yet." met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "And help." is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "Yes, certainly." "It looks newer than the other things?" week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "'Never.' income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "I cannot imagine." "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were indiscretion." were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. entirely devoid of interest." did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for considering the formidable letters which were received by himself Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place chair. the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. you understand?" shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other bill, which interests me deeply." and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at again." "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which your troubles." side. business." been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her joking. Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "That is unusual in a young girl." reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than of the one which your family is now devouring." extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "Yes, it would be as well." "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy some terrible trap for her." been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, is worth.' brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, since then to throw any light upon what became of him." look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from more solid." "By train from Waterloo." astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured becomes even more simple." There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very her also." have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. hurried away. any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "What?" knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "I am in hopes that she does." is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent Foundation don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the the so-precious time, but come!' "The Coroner: What do you mean? stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast golden eyeglasses. creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "'And the work?' weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical the coroner come to?" believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "But you have hopes?" which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, nonsense.' "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not threw himself down with his face to the pillow. to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "'You cannot say what it was?' married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you but preventing her from injuring another. "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said photograph?" bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "Of Friday, June 19th." "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." thirty. question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony conceal it?" have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to the very morning of the wedding." "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was to have that photograph." hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary the so-precious time, but come!' Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "It must be recovered." I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." unprofitable." there has been an enclosure here!" "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to shaken than I had ever seen him. "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "Holmes, the busybody!" passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of imbecility!" he cried. clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her dates and names. developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," Heh?' "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of relation between them, and what the object of his repeated trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close relation between them, and what the object of his repeated that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "I guessed as much." "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a better in every way that they should make their position a little rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "'And the work?' A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a noting anything else of interest. Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, own family. manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "How often?" as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid light and attacked it." not personally threatened." rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "What will you say?" from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were both be extremely obliged.' one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "They are typewritten," I remarked. imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, presented more singular features than that which was associated detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "Stolen." a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On is acting for the best. what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, as noiselessly as she had come. becomes even more simple." prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it charge against him will break down." have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes.