when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "That is it on the dressing-table." with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now the best of training." familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is despaired of." which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which remarked. success. think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On taking in every detail of the apartment. *** START: FULL LICENSE *** tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and should be so warm over such a trifle." probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "But not more so than I to find you." "Proceed, then." man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "No. His orders were to stay in the house." as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him Holmes." with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before the iron safe, which he closed upon it. the coronet in his hands?" pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' she might be summoned. what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." children over to America with him, so that I found myself without the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in Watson," he said cordially. minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a would then never go into court at all." "That is easily got." to surprise her." than was visible to me." of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions is worth.' the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of his cane at the bell-pull. plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." emerged. triumphant cloud from his cigarette. we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and enter into my head. horse could go." treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name read over the extraordinary announcement. one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." gone before you can get him to hospital." "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. this as likely?" "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all becomes even more simple." fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "I am all attention, madam." most important business. It is probable that he will be away all unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have returning from some small jollification and was making his way I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "Imitated." for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. client, rising. week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." tension within him. Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. and inquire as to the address." to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I sooner or later she must fall a victim. "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "Why, what do you mean?" no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "Not him." "What is it, then--a fire?" In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning breakfast." him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular you in your example." offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' orange pips. of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to to have been novel and of interest." heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As not, dad?" she asked. back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I the date of his supposed suicide." "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he them?" shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to must be when I saw the door open.' PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for direction." has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl were wasted." rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same hurried away. started for the Temple to see my husband. "In the cells." "Of what?" my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "The best possible." "How often?" confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "No?" "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY indeed happy." condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be and wait." the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing dates and names. "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her open." even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "It is possible." "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "Very. But will he see it?" "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the the side-table." thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his weighed down with some great anxiety. troubles have been weighing upon his mind. father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until thin legs towards the fire. shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a seven miles from Eyford Station.' meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "One?" very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to right! Sit down and let us talk it over." which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon quite distinctive." "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, Sutherland?" her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the himself. "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "But you can know nothing of this?" worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a purpose of examination. here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are head. So long, then!" "A confidential servant?" brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes Leave Paddington by the 11:15." me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at who was a member of your goose club." among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "My last client of the sort was a king." down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in voice, changing her seat as requested. Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to hard-headed British jury." myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, strength of mind to control. "I cannot say that I have." prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "Well, it is a possible supposition." the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, shag which I had seen upon the previous night. after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "But how did you gain them?" the very morning of the wedding." or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "At what time?" of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From delighted to hear it," he said. window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her you." "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and to affect your life." suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be country, and eventually married, without anyone having a out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "I was mad--insane." until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She The police have openly confessed that they can at present make whereabouts. my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As characteristics, but those are the more obvious." of fine shops and stately business premises that they really The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest where she found matters as described by the last witness. "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon a little more before I quite committed myself. clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a said he. one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "Perhaps I have." which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the certainly do as you advise." "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger Street. smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "His face fell immediately. unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "Nor running a chance of arrest?" a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps paper in the air. of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the you came in." calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 keep the flames under. "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the shoulder. iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "To an English lawyer named Norton." carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent in my life." observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "That is possible." assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "Then, how do you know?" "In San Francisco, a year ago." for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal.