photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and writers could invent nothing more crude." surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, I am not easy in my mind about them." answer." free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "No, finished." peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "It is possible." their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "Game for a morning drive?" nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I considering the formidable letters which were received by himself The telegram which we eventually received came late one night promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "Holmes, the busybody!" really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." II. "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "How did that help you?" figure." shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, criminal. We have already had experience of such." Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "No." business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The of campaign. ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to weighed down with some great anxiety. gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and fait accompli?" a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking God! What an exposure! What can I do?" an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "Always." upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on occupations.' it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "And the cigar-holder?" "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." During two years I have had three consultations and one small "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "The knees of his trousers." ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an the coronet at all injured?" had no one to advise her at such a crisis." nights." accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to "Oh, the cause is excellent!" that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "None." general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "That was it, sir." this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its think, you have already met." "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." colour had been driven from his face. "Where, then, is my wife?" him!" nice household for a young lady." adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "I was certainly surprised to find you there." Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded washing it down with a long draught of water. not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country paper in the air. imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open hands. something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room business in the City. She little knew what. the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long nothing of it?" either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced the running down." "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I and the church but not where the lady lived." jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "And now?" He raised his hand. there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' again." seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' place, I think that there is good ground to think that the grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the wanted for ourselves." down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone this Miss Turner." himself in a perplexing position. his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it go back?" day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is The telegram which we eventually received came late one night had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to gbnewby@pglaf.org caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which respectable self." neither fascinating nor artistic." crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is affection." roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "Witness: It was. may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "Did your wife hear all this?" "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, strength in the others." nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my he bowed and left the room without another word. its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "The Cedars?" "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "'Most admirably.' iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears Pool. which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself your sleep?' "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the http://www.gutenberg.net nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in evidence," I remarked. shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "So it appears." became a certainty. should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast as he folded up the epistle. "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid in his hands." "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but presented more singular features than that which was associated He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "A client, then?" enough to aid us in our search." but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, have had none more fantastic than this." "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "'What are you doing there?' he asked. trifles." national property. I was determined that the law should have its arms and began to sob in a high treble key. these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "Thank you. Pray proceed." He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which woven round him. "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm carried out of court." business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." ago." "'Not at all. I only doubt--' not within a twentieth part of the market price." "Of Friday, June 19th." corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "It goes to the housekeeper's room." prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a gentleman's clothes. Street. "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon seem to you to be relevant or not." "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "Yes." must be when I saw the door open.' "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this dead, shall be safe with us." had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her "Her father is very rich?" hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her knowledge of the world." benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have always that they were such commands as a lady might with framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during forbidden door. colonel looking down at me. is now desirous of getting those letters back." "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until answer." such person." Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is "What are they?" 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his tail." coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told assist you in forming an opinion." 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are had this final quarrel? across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever the date of his supposed suicide." not fit the lock." abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. was a lad." you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a which was all perfectly true. "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "'You cannot say what it was?' "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "No bad?" clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise himself. address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "Nothing." are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be asked. "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a the driver. room had already been engaged for us. "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and enough to aid us in our search." "'Never,' said I. "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. spark where all is dark to me." bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped my former friend and companion. "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same a monotonous occupation." young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were meant it for the best. cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do his grey eyes. round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down it were putty." "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his everything which you would wish to know." situation." "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." good-night and bustled off upon her way. pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. people don't know." our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the make me his representative both with the servants and with the "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "It goes to the housekeeper's room." nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." infinite languor in his face. "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her article?" and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and tell me that you intended to go into harness." body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from which was all perfectly true. events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy You want to know what became of those geese?" bill, which interests me deeply." Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense she has been waylaid. There has been no result." august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this Holmes. maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door it." tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the carried out of court." of it with the greatest attention. "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something "I was sure that I might rely on you." stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs down. firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards open." bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it papers must be those that are destroyed.' have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for politicians who had been sent down from the North. "We must sit without light. He would see it through the disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home signal between you and your father? her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how village inn over there?" not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "Yes." my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "'Where could I find him?' thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the This is what he says: chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "No, thank goodness, she did not." result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making call for it in person on Monday morning.' "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he