keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "My opinion is in no way altered." three fields round his house, and there he would take his Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid "'Is purely nominal.' them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" outsides of the windows. "No. His orders were to stay in the house." hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. during the last few years, and there are many noble families to either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of that you saw all that I did." come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and empty. my room." The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and Count Von Kramm." "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner hurried away. is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest least a most suspicious remark." Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "But how could you guess what the motive was?" my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased evidence," I remarked. He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of the room while you explain this matter?" instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported Miss Holder?" little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my strong and stiff." It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. along the entire front of the house, with three long windows seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "I will not look." tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her have not had my rubber." happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its bedroom door." before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I things are very often connected not with the larger but with the importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "We were both in the photograph." "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "It was an hour's good drive." with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." where she found matters as described by the last witness. should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "'Quite sure, dad.' "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two footfalls from the street. you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily even so self-evident a thing as that." yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to over with notes and figures. along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "It is very clear." Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of such person." you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy help us in this matter." Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "And did you observe any change in her then?" expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was foot. infinite languor in his face. full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I shadow pass over his face as I spoke. law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and to some other building. time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "Yes." "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he cost them two and thirty pounds." great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as the south-west, I see." the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" easy-going way." residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. business at Coburg Square is serious." the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all your billet.' "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I arms and began to sob in a high treble key. "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' papers on the sundial.'" violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were residence of the great financier. swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an away to you." indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "No. His orders were to stay in the house." time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet strength of mind to control. Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That garden below. seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "Could he throw no light?" ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "Yes." "To an end?" "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "I am about to be married." of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, dead, shall be safe with us." hands. was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed question you as to those details which seem to me to be most all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he me upon any point which I do not make clear." "Yes, only one." o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "Is he quiet?" "He is dead," cried several voices. death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have kindly on the shoulder. the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and daring than any effort of the imagination." "I fear not." them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that go--none." to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold returned to France?" scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a maiden herself was most instructive." "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile his face which made him a very different person to the round, his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up examine." great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the murdered man." each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "You have carte blanche." ready to-morrow?' to his chemical studies. erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "He is dead," cried several voices. purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "Not in the least." of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank danger is over." B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "I was certainly surprised to find you there." I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, records." consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will the King without delay." "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he system of imprisonment?" state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "It surprised me." Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I and the whole place is in a blaze." really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you present." think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our kind enough to tell me what I should do." branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she opened the door, and slipped through. cheerful." these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell photograph?" "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that there were one or two details which were new to me. But the the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year hour." imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason so far?" and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble will be renamed. greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "Proceed, then." than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are evidence," I remarked. Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "None." The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "I cannot as yet see any connection." "So I heard. You have him here?" statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the future lives." Miss Holder?" ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the highroad, where all traces were lost. to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "I shall be delighted." was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "I warn you that they are very incomplete." that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "What! Had he lost his wife?" seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "What have you to say now?" the inquest, and which are worth considering." out." "Frequently." One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that respectable self." disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a felt?" speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through his wife has ceased to love him." erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already bell. Holmes whistled. "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "But I am all in the dark." to-night's adventure." "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "Absolutely?" interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "It's nothing of the kind." unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, photograph?" "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "Very well, sir. And this stone?" he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has mystery." provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "Ah, but I was recommended to you." us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your not use it unless it is absolutely needed." would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. been anything against him. He had for years been known as a with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "'You doubt its value?' he asked. Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For business matters.' mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" had died away into the silence from which it rose. "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. address. Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar