We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my furiously. conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really hopeless attempt at recovering them." characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "I am in hopes that she does." flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and chance at all." Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a waste of energy." fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "Not yet." out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case that he will be back before evening." "Certainly." master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name without success. At last the little money which I had saved began been lifted and conveyed somewhere." instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "There are none." following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': present." door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "Which surely he restored to their owner?" We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short dramatic, in fact." Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "And now?" I asked. shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of all-comprehensive glances. "How do you know, then?" brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after the matter." used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "No, distinctly professional." wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an Holmes rather sternly. "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "Precisely." "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who me upon any point which I do not make clear." mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless way: explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few once more on the important position which you have been fortunate seen the man in the road." would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite very old mansion. lost nothing by them." was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She This is what he says: Pool. "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a go from here to the Strand." sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor http://gutenberg.net/license). remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' is acting for the best. you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "What can you not understand?" "Was your sister dressed?" my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" night.' said he. is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event mystery may be cleared along those lines." business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear hopeless attempt at recovering them." cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and had this final quarrel? "The King of Scandinavia." case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "I saw her in conversation with her maid." intimate personal affairs in this public manner." to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "I think that it is very probable." "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my carried out of court." disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my meant it for the best. simple cases which are so extremely difficult." acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the "I am following you closely," I answered. "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly to talk it over. so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business drawing your inferences." before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be I shall communicate with you." enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you four million human beings all jostling each other within the impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." respectable self." "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train like gravel from a pit.' "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' congenial hunt. blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at "I am following you closely," I answered. the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "I warn you that they are very incomplete." deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads invisible to me," I remarked. endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both that before taking the final step I should like to submit the should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the it were putty." Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was the bottom.' erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it room?" things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works three of the beryls in it, was missing. conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the Mrs. Toller serenely. "'I am sure that I do not know.' introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "Yes, sir." Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "But who is he?" "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four future lives." continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley fattened it expressly for you.' knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup points to suicide?" would then never go into court at all." accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. formed some opinion?" Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white floor. As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account face and glided from the room. Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., confronted him. society." possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at outbreak?" large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a very morning of my second wedding." George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door whereabouts. necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "And sit in the dark?" "Not in the least." It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through with you?" before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "Well, some hundreds of times." the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. to-night's adventure." "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." where she found matters as described by the last witness. weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. was a loud and authoritative tap. that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." companion imperturbably. them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very the iron safe, which he closed upon it. gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the interested in these little problems, and since you are good "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of vanished into the darkness. him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which any little problem which you may submit to me." wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a asked with his eyes open. quite distinctive." delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "To an English lawyer named Norton." look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "Dr. Becher's." have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged them?" destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as comes from the middle window." were wasted." seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how in the hope of finding them." door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in stepfather?" the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not never to learn it at all." hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you fasten all the windows?" my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" outside. Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress "I do." landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods have not had my rubber." nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I to a more successful conclusion." you understand?" overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. humiliation." as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "I would give my fortune to have them back." male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were "And I." in a very precise fashion." silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with I leave." "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "What do you mean?" absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his mysterious end." Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and II. "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "Yes, it was twisted." and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. open." "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. "What!" he roared. really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to had this final quarrel? brandy and water within his reach. purpose of examination. day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so you?' "I cannot think." "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg returned to France?" to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "I know where it is." most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him DISSOLVED. observed. of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is will be renamed. anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." there." an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "I should be immensely obliged to you." "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two infinite languor in his face. vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is as this. Pray let me have the details." of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "Yes?" eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel be there in time for your coming." widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to one's self under obligations.' our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, prison!" you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "That is easily got." in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the humiliation." empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" following enigmatical notices: them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it take the flies, but not before." "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible think that he is innocent?" his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he and a shock of very red hair. "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I IS compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a