"I shall be delighted." ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the "No, my brougham is waiting." left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "You horrify me." least a most suspicious remark." Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in province." "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. families. Now for the facts. his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from IS matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind as this. Pray let me have the details." the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between pierced for earrings?" "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. manager. "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining that you can jump it.' "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from meant it for the best. thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the gentleman's clothes. "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the acted in my house last night?" Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the "Always." from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you heavily into it. have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he the coronet in his hands?" look dissatisfied." enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the the driver. it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right "I am about to be married." gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "Then you may be so with me." all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his "'Yes.' similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "Texas, I think." depend upon my doing so.' in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a "I fear not." taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord it." Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a particular state visit http://pglaf.org "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker I was concerned in it." the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "'In my own bureau.' done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you fled together." that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King of this gang." "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "Not I." hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who emerged. sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his success. which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in most interesting one." vanished into the darkness. weigh very heavily upon my conscience." and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady photograph?" was lame." "About a month then." "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker Pope's Court. crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with to Leatherhead. "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between strength." clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. as this. Pray let me have the details." you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss and put his glass in his pocket. thought that she would have been so carried away." endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" way in everything. Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement the one as in the other." "'Never,' said I. disappearance of these gems?" you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "What then?" "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." during which he might have communicated with his friend the inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of over here." be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this DAMAGE. "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "Yes, but only for you and me." the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and to some other building. of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "No legal papers or certificates?" the child." "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my orange pips. "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "In San Francisco, a year ago." The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and distinguish the words: you." be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in DAMAGE. slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "Entirely." some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this indiscretion." "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "So I am. Very much so." placed his cuttings. "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "But what harm can there be in that?" "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George chance at all." judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love few hundred pounds.' incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect the best of training." pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be I nodded to show that I had heard. "I never have." before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It way: finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than way: even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which a little more before I quite committed myself. "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have careless servant girl?" "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "What I expected to see." desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "Yes." In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his my friend's incisive reasoning. ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all like that before?" 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable fled together." question you as to those details which seem to me to be most never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the outbreak?" Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself bare slabs of marble. address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. take the flies, but not before." was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of weigh very heavily upon my conscience." play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., the house with me." for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do populous neighbourhood." "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately window when the police appeared." delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "Yes, he did." hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. "And you thought he was pulled back?" papers on the sundial.'" planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began plantation.' foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have http://gutenberg.net/license). "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had row." to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was sooner or later she must fall a victim. distance from the station, and there we found the young lady first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "Never to return." brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I past. careless servant girl?" wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation be.' "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" been deceived." strode off upon his way. up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "'Which dealer's?' from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she the coronet at all injured?" light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The tension within him. "Not particularly." pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project were wasted." boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand one else, I think." homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an bachelor.' "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent and looked back. "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able place of silver." am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that foot. than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." at my remark. fishes. flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and to affect your life." sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE she used." workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted recover the gem." an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been following enigmatical notices: DISSOLVED. fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" should be taken.' resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "I assure you that I am in your hands." be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "But you can know nothing of this?" little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of to affect your life." compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some learned something! Where are the gems?" had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her and files of the old papers, following the future career of every cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow "'I shall certainly be there.' "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with the Red-headed League." is entirely a question of barometric pressure." backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City notes," he said. "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "No sign of it?" "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, side. equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been read over the extraordinary announcement. which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. humiliation." abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "Yes, the wine-cellar." red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' crackling voice. I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that fishes. narrative." "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. present." inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will the inner apartment." "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope you do it in twenty minutes!' "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. crime. There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I