Gutenberg-tm License. are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the disturbance in my wife." wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, will he say when he returns?" equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "None." standing smiling on the door-step. Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "I never have." particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his round and wave him away like that.' hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "Yes, there are nearly always some there." imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "Yes, it was twisted." "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "Yes. He waved his hands." pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it that I may have something better before very many minutes are grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how out." "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. think you a quite exceptional woman." skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, to miss it." column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning that you saw all that I did." down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right "Yes, the wine-cellar." kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, empty. an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar some mystery and the punishment of some crime." *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "But what harm can there be in that?" "'Certainly not. But why?' red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock shoulder; "he's all right." left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and this Miss Turner." been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "You have the photograph?" light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving awaited us upon the table. before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from nothing with him." and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We have had none more fantastic than this." window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other nonsense.' enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "I cannot imagine." ready to-morrow?' as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his "Breckinridge is his name." "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had as noiselessly as she had come. Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, confronted him. in him." short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural know all about it," he snarled. "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "Pray continue your narrative." ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to him!" work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own you." few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all whatever might befall. I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove to have been novel and of interest." you give your casting vote to?" "I know where it is." It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. jewels which you have stolen?' advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the I shall communicate with you." the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a to go into your room and bar your shutters?" expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "And Miss Sutherland?" the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "It was an hour's good drive." and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second one or two very singular points about this room. For example, however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in in my life." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "It's nothing of the kind." room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "Ah!" round and wave him away like that.' neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's later, upon the night of May 2nd." accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "It looks newer than the other things?" by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very take the flies, but not before." American. Then who could this American be, and why should he that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "Nothing?" There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a more solid." questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch tightly behind him. always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not imbecility!" he cried. the station." few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him showing my impatience. security.' I was concerned in it." arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest feature." He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "What steps will you take?" I asked. came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to weary and pale-looking. "And from a noble client?" "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what other, as fresh and trim as possible. description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "Yes, it would be as well." eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "Then what has happened to him?" a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or business matters.' owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "My stepfather's business papers." he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, at home. heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "Then I can wait in the next room." light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "But you have hopes?" beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, his face which made him a very different person to the round, roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by later, upon the night of May 2nd." nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or stalked out of the room. lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the his knees, staring into the fire. "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of bare slabs of marble. He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes reach." another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, might help us?" a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander in your London, you will know that the office of the company is bachelor.' do.' request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "Breckinridge is his name." beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in you give your casting vote to?" should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** fat-encircled eyes. to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made coroner's jury." during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. come either from the window or the door. My attention was "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been money should be paid at once.' And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you enter into my head. we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "But the mystery?" direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." cheerful." ran thus: fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all vault. "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "I will do it." he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "It must be recovered." the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most impression behind it as though a window had gently closed her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "I should like to see him very much." it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, is a common subject for conversation. my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." bird of prey. be. "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my morning." abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was my little problems." ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY had died away into the silence from which it rose. copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "And how have you succeeded?" have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If stood on the top of it. wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "Pray do so." ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed and the whole place is in a blaze." and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very London for the present?" floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another one which it was hard to resist. views." upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "Was there a secret marriage?" "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that seem to you to be relevant or not." quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable must compliment you." "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you you." dear old homesteads?" minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the province." there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my I nodded to show that I had heard. "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "'Quite sure, dad.' "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one