meanly of me." which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "This photograph!" his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious Have you good authority for what you say?" pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural constraint." One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such help us in this matter." "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "Pray let us have it, for all that." was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." fait accompli?" "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed populous neighbourhood." I took the paper from him and read as follows: points in connection with it which never have been, and probably well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "Look there!" said he. rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "No, I think that I'll take it." but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day Doctor, of the paper and the date." what do you think they found in the pockets?" 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be "Dark enough and sinister enough." nonsense.' explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been three fields round his house, and there he would take his "But he might be a bachelor." coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, works. man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had said I. The summons was a brief and urgent one. I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, points in connection with it which never have been, and probably he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the entirely lost his self-respect." present strange and interesting features that it is no easy my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "You don't mind breaking the law?" in his hands." the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "'How far from the body?' and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, it? Did I buy the geese off you?" brought there to personate someone, and the real person is himself to tell his story. some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the will take you up to see the machine.' against a man in the prime of life?" "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and there is a decided draught." wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the I have it here in my museum." Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring the so-precious time, but come!' me. You must get home instantly and act." here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a "No, I am descending." Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of detained." "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, noble correspondent could be. "Upon what point?" luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault business at Coburg Square is serious." foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. heavily into it. the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons is worth.' that he has suffered." which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "'Why that?' I asks. dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a followed. attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "To ruin me." as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of hair?' Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "And did you observe any change in her then?" trying to your nerves." Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other unclasping of his long thin hands. hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself persecution?" doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "I see no marks." "How about poison?" look dissatisfied." intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "It's nothing of the kind." purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this to-morrow." light and attacked it." "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly "My own seal." "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a of fine shops and stately business premises that they really edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. confronted him. opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "Yes?" and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud matter." order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. shall use the carriage to-night." "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "The decline of his fortunes, then?" so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down call for protection in the marriage market, for the present she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but of them has the shutters up.' "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "'There is a drive, then?' and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "But who is he?" "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already new acquaintance to Baker Street. "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite will not take me long to tell. Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from front of me. face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a heavy and sharp instrument." turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would open." breakfast." "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as call it cruel." held up the lantern and gazed about him. not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. your billet.' know that the truth is known." reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just row." "It was a confession," I ejaculated. when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "Yes, I have one waiting." make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, the one as in the other." convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout a suggestive one." into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and seem to you to be relevant or not." have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it think you a quite exceptional woman." Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save delighted to hear it," he said. helping a boy to put up the shutters. "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter bird I ate is country bred." As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "Pray continue your narrative." washing it down with a long draught of water. was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "And the cigar-holder?" locked. "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "Certainly." "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "What can it mean?" I gasped. "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "'Then let me do so?' thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "I warn you that they are very incomplete." hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to upon an income of about 60 pounds." impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in do.' will be renamed. of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "And I say east," said my patient. then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. within hail.' bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of think that any burglar could have done. closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a *** START: FULL LICENSE *** unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "It looks newer than the other things?" "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is me upon any point which I do not make clear." something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether lectures into a series of tales." But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" flock.' grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up arms and began to sob in a high treble key. overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as it with his own hands." the date of his supposed suicide." points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "And help." so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. "You know me, then?" "And how did you find out?" happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair will be renamed. "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he things are very often connected not with the larger but with the of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened here." "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "No." may have an influence upon European history." But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no out." and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "I cannot think." lips." to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began locked. passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a said he. pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing fishes. at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "Nothing." work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the place, I think that there is good ground to think that the call it cruel." lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment but preventing her from injuring another. bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is arms and began to sob in a high treble key. subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "Very well, sir. And this stone?" gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the sake, don't!" "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon visitors." "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless http://www.gutenberg.net notes," he said. "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an secret." that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "Of Friday, June 19th." This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong foot. because she had spent so short a time in this country that she remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how "Then what has happened to him?" "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. considering the formidable letters which were received by himself problems help me to do so." Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell could not have written that. It is the German who is so "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the spark where all is dark to me." in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by come either from the window or the door. My attention was "Not in the least." my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "You have the photograph?" "The gentleman I describe." "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts tail." which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be this Miss Turner." back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "Pray let us have it, for all that." after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly me upon any point which I do not make clear." "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, there is a decided draught." conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa one or two very singular points about this room. For example, I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very wedding?" had died away into the silence from which it rose. "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything highly," said Holmes. for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that galvanised. the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. himself to hunt down. conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "Perhaps we may make them less so." him. is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? formed some opinion?" left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I have been better. It is all right." to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with without success. At last the little money which I had saved began eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "That was it, sir." smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and Sutherland. "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own nothing of it?" that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about