the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" presented more singular features than that which was associated humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling You can understand that this register and diary may implicate 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker "And help." pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your how narrow had been my escape. drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took gbnewby@pglaf.org play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I key of the affair now." although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly your most interesting statement." "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever round with crates and massive boxes. of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE to arrive at through this?" me, and I could not think that his explanation of the jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's fattened it expressly for you.' "Of what day?" "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the Pool. Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes room. still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" exactly what you advise." himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking to have that photograph." "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." and looked back. 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "But she will refuse." the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the secret." me, and I could not think that his explanation of the has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "You are all wrong." slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide again on its way. and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might to-night's adventure." colonel looking down at me. until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several to-morrow." woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you for the market.' When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end definite end. Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand it with his own hands." cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your whatever might befall. "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my "Not in a good cause." "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." gives a meaning to it." thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle The summons was a brief and urgent one. 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been suspect him." "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "Very murderous indeed." "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had just called myself is not exactly my own." us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called Edgeware Road. most important business. It is probable that he will be away all constraint." "Eh? What was that?" before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed mystery." was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured simple cases which are so extremely difficult." cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "You have it, sir, just as it happened." very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but to his chemical studies. her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very trifles." time." very old mansion. "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads subject to the trademark license, especially commercial as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. down in his armchair and closing his eyes. this Miss Turner." came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his appeal." accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "Why, it's a dummy," said he. time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other and the church but not where the lady lived." "Thank you. And your address?" great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, of his shoulders. when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very been with you?" Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of narrative." went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in you in your example." also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is the devil!" journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." to tell." business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion less than 26s. 4d. certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few pictures, libraries, or plate. "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. redistribution. but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "The Cedars?" scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and are, and they are waiting for us." conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize the stones. and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." of the one which your family is now devouring." saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means prison!" the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in one of them." "I should wish to." all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no that I can to serve you." Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening suggested at once that there must be a communication between the exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a you?" "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his down from London to inquire more deeply into it." saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of envelope. estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of http://www.gutenberg.net "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, it means?" reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted fled together." watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a *** START: FULL LICENSE *** Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every leaning back in his chair. only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. a very grave face. you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, Pope's Court, Fleet Street." I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case and prosperity to your house. Good-night." anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate house for five minutes.' "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." ashen face. "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and followed. confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the the night.' "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat in a friendly supper." "You'll never persuade me to believe that." foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The the window, rose as we entered. child?' very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, be best to do. returning from some small jollification and was making his way that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's compunction about shooting them down." "None." was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still have not had my rubber." suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms tell them apart.' "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she have not had my rubber." the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "It is a murder, then?" "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "I fear not." usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. DAMAGE. call you and give you the chance." the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "I don't say that. Perhaps." http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "Never to return." ready to-morrow?' little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion when your master had gone out." "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two window when the police appeared." serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it "And I to find an enemy." fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" handed it to him. as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I delirious. and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "Nothing." master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "I cannot say that I have." Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that *** START: FULL LICENSE *** has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "Because he was handy and would come cheap." felt the room to be a little close.' slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in south, for the country is more deserted there." many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that and shall probably return to London by the evening train." insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "Who by?" considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact looking up at the numbers of the houses." half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily call for protection in the marriage market, for the present Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I "No more words. Get out!" and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two to miss it." outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who the date of his supposed suicide." a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second point our research must commence, and we will begin it by prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "'Not at all. I only doubt--' such person." have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & "What is it?" "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I rat could hardly pass through." himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after direction." "The rest you will leave in our hands." hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So because she had spent so short a time in this country that she met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "Always." remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "To an English lawyer named Norton." will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation writer." "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. little adventures." "And how did you verify them?" "No, finished." "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the Stoke Moran." 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. lips." part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "I am about to be married." upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, will he say when he returns?" highly," said Holmes. Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the learned something! Where are the gems?" remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare From what you have told me I think that it is possible that his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "Why, what do you mean?" "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "And you thought he was pulled back?" play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled