feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of it means?" but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "I would pay ten." more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the secret." "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "I shall most certainly do so." "My last client of the sort was a king." clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of and laid it on the table. "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to what is your own theory as to what took place?" room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "But it has twice been burgled." thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a the address that was given us in the advertisement. creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to "You have but to name it." "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son you." "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such problems help me to do so." would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent to have that photograph." Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in hard-headed British jury." other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." trifles." have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which "Do you go out much in society?" hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "In heaven's name, what for?" settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. it with his own hands." he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a the roots. "Not particularly." year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his about. "I beg pardon." but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." likely to be some crony of the landlady's." secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "Nothing?" yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, of Mr. Rucastle's." expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to brought there to personate someone, and the real person is animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "To an English lawyer named Norton." eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "Not yet." completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "Nor running a chance of arrest?" All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in my room." play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the good for you to do.' "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the one which it was hard to resist. posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), hands. villagers almost as much as their master. "In the cells." there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to golden eyeglasses. chill to my heart. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "Yes." another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been tell me that you intended to go into harness." mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that them?" he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I locked." straighten it?" for and were ordered to this address. that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no narrative." and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "She told me to ask you." him to be an active member of the medical profession." entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "Was she in good spirits?" Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond nonsense.' The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" only touch the interest." glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin it. feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "We have tried and failed." over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' asked with his eyes open. "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we down in his armchair and closing his eyes. which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "Indeed! Whose, then?" is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the enter Dr. Roylott's room." eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain You want to know what became of those geese?" King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and help us in this matter." would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "I was afraid that you were engaged." Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "But who is he?" It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my it right.' no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do carried out of court." I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "It is possible." had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "No, distinctly professional." "Yes?" although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the quite distinctive." "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his confronted him. me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east detective. "He said too much." "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the the coronet in his hands?" "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" to-night?" I asked. means taking possession of that which another person has a prior forecastle of an emigrant ship. studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "The gentleman I describe." out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's read it out to me." "That is easily got." case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the death." profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with hurried away. He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not for its centre. inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I learned something! Where are the gems?" Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" putting in the horse. therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, delirious. understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to the nursery. staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had round with crates and massive boxes. you do it in twenty minutes!' matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year bachelor.' "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "It is very kind of you." "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the despaired of." "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to the warnings." consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the and prosperity to your house. Good-night." result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an went to the Alpha were town bred." refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his helping a boy to put up the shutters. matters immensely." I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I fasten all the windows?" any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "Which are?" good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the know that the truth is known." "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "My photograph." cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and nothing of it?" gone before you can get him to hospital." are, and they are waiting for us." window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." McCarthy." office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, and I shall be with you presently." conduct the inquiry." relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of you came in." it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of Heh?' "Your French gold?" standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "No, thank goodness, she did not." you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "Here?" the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official you?' "A client, then?" "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "One of his hands." "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. prove to be little relation between the different incidents of four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & asked. "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But ill-usage at the hands of fortune. recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, this as likely?" "Then you may entirely rely on me." Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are other, as fresh and trim as possible. gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. Dr. Gregory B. Newby and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I that you can jump it.' across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre may never be exposed to such a temptation." there were so many in the whole country as were brought together remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty plantation.' hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "It is true that I have been generally successful." which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a American. Then who could this American be, and why should he and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, The King stared at him in amazement. three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." business in the City. She little knew what. "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "It must be recovered." conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of strange features which were associated with the two crimes which He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "What have you done?" asked Holmes. have one." considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "What shall I do?" a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. not fit the lock." have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "Always." a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting you came in." eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will must be when I saw the door open.' however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do spark where all is dark to me." be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "It is his hat." Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and Stoke Moran." and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "The Coroner: What do you mean? the night.' profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "Look there!" said he. "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the other, as fresh and trim as possible. I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked power." these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "This photograph!" contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a key turn in the lock." recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up all-comprehensive glances. roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the "Game for a morning drive?" the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the cigar and let me expound." "What then?" "In which, sir?" considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then not fit the lock." grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her