understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a Dr. Gregory B. Newby over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she Chief Executive and Director "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "Can I be of assistance?" Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to o'clock is it?" knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "Not I." I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything the inquest, and which are worth considering." could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "None." VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "I was mad--insane." introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further article?" he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, way in everything. "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "It goes to the housekeeper's room." offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of The police have openly confessed that they can at present make play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the voice. too. "Yes." sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "One of his hands." in the hope of finding them." fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming face and glided from the room. "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was it." Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that annoyance, but no jest. in a friendly supper." had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "Why did you pick him?" "Ample." have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what think you a quite exceptional woman." "You don't mind breaking the law?" as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start written, and locked the door of the office after me. and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "'About the same.' nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting envelope. important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "It is a murder, then?" "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" when you have done it." "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? round and wave him away like that.' God! What an exposure! What can I do?" For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite His name is Francis Prosper." fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "Yes, from Horsham." "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a about. stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I *** START: FULL LICENSE *** tell them apart.' "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "What have you done?" asked Holmes. prove to be little relation between the different incidents of however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." your most interesting statement." the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "Why? What do you mean?" and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he crowd. certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. just ask you whether you had heard it.' outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, instituted." "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "Yesterday." three fields round his house, and there he would take his "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles married her." themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "Was the window open?" years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time national property. I was determined that the law should have its learned something! Where are the gems?" upon the white wrist. were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. help us in this matter." preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "Will you bet, then?" "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. sufficient punishment." perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "Yes?" have an American origin." lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of shall not find me ungrateful." assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "The Cedars?" The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed "Where did he live, then?" finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, "Yes." "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' to me. charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, Farm upon the left." friend's singular character. "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." "I see many objections to any such theory." hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "My Mary? Impossible!" and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked comes from the middle window." "Will you go?" But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his had picked up in the wood. I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "Your French gold?" "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual of the efforts of the United States government and of the better thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but sparkled upon his finger. the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "Awake, Watson?" he asked. thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom acted in my house last night?" knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which to-night's adventure." act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "You have carte blanche." "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm companion imperturbably. I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. conduct the inquiry." grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light rooms." at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had brandy and water within his reach. "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. morning." very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "But she will refuse." power." you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled "No, my brougham is waiting." less than 26s. 4d. "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' the dangers which encompass me." He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with my special province." "That also I could fathom." the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some opportunities to fix the problem. propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "But I am all in the dark." Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project the bottom.' "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "But you have hopes?" acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no looking up at the numbers of the houses." "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by the inner apartment." "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able Cross for the Continent." a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "Yes." advice." the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while to talk it over. gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "But his left-handedness." learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. unprofitable." "The doctor?" "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my the driver. dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its voice. "The landlord of the Alpha." one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is friend's singular character. to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "Was there a secret marriage?" "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the indeed which he could not unravel. few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" undoubtedly my uncle's." well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his and no precautions can guard against." above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, becomes even more simple." "You horrify me!" Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon question you as to those details which seem to me to be most old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight make me his representative both with the servants and with the "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. present." left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the fat-encircled eyes. lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his husband's writing, madam." observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest in his power. Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is been able to understand it, in a very few words. "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two security.' upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "Have you it here?" "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her electronic works "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. means taking possession of that which another person has a prior woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "That was it, sir." some city in a dream. "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "And help." especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, and all of them with the keenest interest. "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "Witness: Nothing definite. "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" lectures into a series of tales." "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "'Yes, sir.' Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which what is your own theory as to what took place?" Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I weary and pale-looking. "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." she to prove their authenticity?" follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must time." enough to aid us in our search." when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a from the brougham. promised to bring home. word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "I cannot think." say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father during that time.' once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when arrested. You then--" "To the police?" had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "No." main points of my analysis." and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "Yes, sir." had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he good for you to do.' the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers delighted to hear it," he said. the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck you found me to-night--and running through the front room she exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, "'Then let me do so?' roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "Her father is very rich?" prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was house for five minutes.' McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have charge against him will break down." About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for all?"