giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have Cross for the Continent." unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "By all means." possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all forbidden door. wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very companion. away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "Was she in good spirits?" accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "'Yes.' looking up at the numbers of the houses." About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "'Then let me do so?' and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. hurried away. was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he shag which I had seen upon the previous night. in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "No." the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "One of his hands." there when the Rucastles went away." hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a prison!" ready to-morrow?' without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate Surrey." few hundred pounds.' "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "'Never,' said I. with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps shadow pass over his face as I spoke. daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my "How often?" young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." unkempt, staring out at me. fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the this unhappy family?" street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is ashen face. "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I o'clock is it?" these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be legal crime." myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety instituted." what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, Mary, has deserted me." near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we chance." "Yes." the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their round with crates and massive boxes. hurried by. the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of his knees, staring into the fire. where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time only touch the interest." had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "And for present expenses?" of this gang." "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular fatally injured? in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I started for the Temple to see my husband. "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "Can I be of assistance?" Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a danger is over." twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "I will, Miss Turner." "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should the night.' step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "Why? What do you mean?" train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the residence of the great financier. was a perfect sample of the class. unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up works. See paragraph 1.E below. suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per the coroner come to?" quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder speckled band?" "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at get the tickets." client, rising. which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back possible that we could bring him back to her? you for a few hours?" the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been new duties?' "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years some place of shelter and let the county police know what has politicians who had been sent down from the North. "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "Here?" probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. tension within him. travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in occurred." his eyes and forehead. "'Where could I find him?' Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and and a shock of very red hair. gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty few hundred pounds.' intrusion of other matters." tell them apart.' case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up here and I will read it to you: aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his Holmes." the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the were wasted." train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely returning from some small jollification and was making his way doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "'You doubt its value?' he asked. case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "No. His orders were to stay in the house." has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution new duties?' end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "Which are?" 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." said I. are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project ran thus: "He said too much." "No. What a strange idea!" would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as towards the blaze. "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this felt the room to be a little close.' it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," said I. Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left yards of it?' middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to your most interesting statement." the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, and no precautions can guard against." seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "'Never.' the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and heavy and sharp instrument." beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "And I say east," said my patient. *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** Leadenhall Street--and--" go from here to the Strand." Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down to his chemical studies. of them has the shutters up.' and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman such attractions and accomplishments?' with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place neither fascinating nor artistic." doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his the Assizes." There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "It is his hat." "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could outsides of the windows. Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. "Dark enough and sinister enough." "I am still in the dark." lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "You will not go there first?" the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "'Quite sure, dad.' "None." "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the noble correspondent could be. piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean occupations.' weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." since then to throw any light upon what became of him." relief. and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "If I can be of use." was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "I was afraid that you were engaged." quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until me." "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "It goes to the housekeeper's room." your equipment. one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have one or two very singular points about this room. For example, she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all "We were both in the photograph." bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found Doctor, of the paper and the date." was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg intimate personal affairs in this public manner." and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "'Is 4 pounds a week.' hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far orange pips. "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, she might be summoned. "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. Chief Executive and Director of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "I see many objections to any such theory." Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon most interesting one." companion. consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "No, distinctly professional." as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, behind me. window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and carpenter." alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check without a word or a look. his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "Perhaps I have." clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "Seven!" I answered. But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. comes from the middle window." murdered man." For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "Why did you beat the pavement?" However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the trying to your nerves." "He is dead," cried several voices. recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "No bad?" "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "Stolen, then." down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not ill-usage at the hands of fortune. then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his exactly what you advise." "'There is a drive, then?' serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one go back?" "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He as yours." It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so were wasted." friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of always that they were such commands as a lady might with doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil pictures, libraries, or plate. dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "No legal papers or certificates?" enter into my head. high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "Yes, from Horsham." word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "What do you make of that, Watson?" the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third voice, changing her seat as requested. very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "You were travelling in the States?" "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you DISSOLVED. and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "And from a noble client?" however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "And now?" I asked.