hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to derbies." now. It seems that there had been some informality about their and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "ARAT," I read. DAMAGE. unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an to that open window." taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." obstinate." "Nothing?" as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, over part of the map. "What do you read?" "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went our word." "I will get her to show me." "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "Pray be precise as to details," said he. of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock answered with a sidelong glance. "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "On your arm?" "'I am sure if I had known--' abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. "You'll never persuade me to believe that." there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "Why, what do you mean?" admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most lamp. breakfast?" frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "The rest you will leave in our hands." house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "Stolen." "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the enter Dr. Roylott's room." that you can jump it.' "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property persecution?" the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the the stable lane now." "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's always that they were such commands as a lady might with in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he suspect him." of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are following enigmatical notices: mysterious end." "'You cannot say what it was?' some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on which we had just quitted. to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "We must sit without light. He would see it through the hand, madam?" "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of I approached. stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope outside. which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know business matters.' her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in dear old homesteads?" "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. http://gutenberg.net/license). one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "I cannot tell." the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" daring than any effort of the imagination." the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "What can it mean?" I gasped. knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." were unconscious?" utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's Street. "Very murderous indeed." fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of head. So long, then!" to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a that there was nothing in it, after all." were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic suddenly upon us." it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very ordinary clothes on?" "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am photograph?" desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable all-comprehensive glances. "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "I am sure." feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "Has he come with you to-night?" utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to had this final quarrel? dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of was a perfect sample of the class. abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, lost nothing by them." public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so soul! here is her carriage at the door." "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It photograph?" "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just derbies." and your relations to her." "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included him nearly every evening." "You don't mind breaking the law?" acted in my house last night?" hour?' upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found the driver. floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush giving me time to thank him. meant it for the best. "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third papers on the sundial.'" it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We could gather together that I was able to avert another public passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had trifles." other means.' 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." entirely lost his self-respect." "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a interests were the same as his." came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these girl said." this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, the morning and make my own way in the world.' it were putty." overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted weigh very heavily upon my conscience." assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, disturbance in my wife." sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "Yes, that is the Crown." the general public were present, then?" the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson and it need not interfere very much with one's other exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "I was certainly surprised to find you there." have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so cost them two and thirty pounds." week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by girl said." the coroner come to?" and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been head. So long, then!" fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came time." however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "Perhaps we may make them less so." to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I the bottom.' "Then he might have called to you?" material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man "Oh, the cause is excellent!" agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "What have you done?" asked Holmes. concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that and effective." "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" a suggestive one." Chief Executive and Director in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap had this final quarrel? however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! and the church but not where the lady lived." "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger confronted him. to surprise her." thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is footfalls from the street. the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious furiously. blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and morning." and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "Pray tell us what has happened to you." after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now bonnet, and went out." at home. enter into my head. edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as confronted him. "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I if she died from some sudden fright." "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no tell him that I know him to be innocent." whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock threw himself down with his face to the pillow. has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main done what I asked you, Jones?" "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced success. himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "'Then let me do so?' "Two days later this same performance was gone through under the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I morning." blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the everything which you would wish to know." rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of secret." II. "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across families. Now for the facts. "What then?" back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "Pray do so." before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to shall use the carriage to-night." gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else was already answered. "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "In which, sir?" The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, which we had just quitted. "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" http://www.gutenberg.net derbies." ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "I will do it." and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to it with his own hands." roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the will not take me long to tell. "What will you do, then?" "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt lost his Christmas dinner." say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for upon an income of about 60 pounds." low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man there has been an enclosure here!" his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "'And what are they worth?' I asked. as the one I chose?' man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "'I have heard so.' landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our newspaper selections." for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before sentimental considerations in the background which would induce his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "But you would not advise me to refuse?" A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "Now, then, what's the last entry?" that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by events, Mr. Windibank!" your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me not use it unless it is absolutely needed." of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "To the police?" he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "'And the work?' read over the extraordinary announcement. grasp, he hurried from the room. Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest business matters.' my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he drove away. "Then I do not see the point." were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "So I heard. You have him here?" the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did tassel actually lying upon the pillow. the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to *** START: FULL LICENSE *** assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's stalked out of the room. an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord "None." and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray tension within him. the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "You may rely upon my doing all that I can."