From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at really the only notable feature about the thing." process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has you?" fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "Did you observe the colour?" after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian and glanced through. could not have written that. It is the German who is so "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over during which he might have communicated with his friend the "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet and capable of preserving a secret.' are, and they are waiting for us." He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," meant." goes." "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "And why?" remarked. total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little that I am arrested." my little problems." just called myself is not exactly my own." Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side a very grave face. "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up young Openshaw's." "You think that he is dead?" zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up room. "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "To an end?" there has been an enclosure here!" copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and But Holmes shook his head gravely. "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "I shall most certainly do so." sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and absorbing." father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet "This photograph!" By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the case-book, which he consulted. "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. results." carried out of court." "I should be immensely obliged to you." well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "Perfectly so." "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day disturbance in my wife." 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not said he, "my real name is James Ryder." in your London, you will know that the office of the company is say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in an introduction to him?" that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "Was there a secret marriage?" individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had answer." particular state visit http://pglaf.org said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, with you alone." evidence," I remarked. "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner that you wished to speak to me?' is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in delighted to hear it," he said. the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in little adventures." work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in may have an influence upon European history." crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, you." points to suicide?" Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "Ah!" the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "'What do you call purely nominal?' snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the eavesdroppers?' "It missed him, then?" was used.' this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me it." always that they were such commands as a lady might with fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in the south-west, I see." is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "At what time?" see a sister of mine apply for." he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to disappearance of these gems?" been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as for its centre. danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "Why? What do you mean?" had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and correct than the official force." the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." kind enough to tell me what I should do." I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, photograph?" "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the absorbing." hands. "Of what?" a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this is acting for the best. "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that lamp. corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but Pool. conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by out." Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "I am in hopes that she does." within hail.' "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you started for the Temple to see my husband. Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining lost nothing by them." out." once more to my work. from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "'In my own bureau.' acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." His smile broadened. words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential friends, not even his own brother. there has been an enclosure here!" gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss more terrible than the truth. into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to gigantic client. very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your down in his armchair and closing his eyes. consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away forebodings. "Proceed, then." Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "Pray let us have it, for all that." we went to search for him, face downward in a little sufficient punishment." broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," upon the sideboard." with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, best detective that ever lived. dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every both be extremely obliged.' you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was "And on what day did he meet his death?" time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to pierced for earrings?" stepfather?" because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. she might be summoned. gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "I am armed." effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I with some details as to your case." "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "What can you not understand?" "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "It is solved." vault. league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "Absolutely none." finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable front of the hall door has given its name to the place. borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "Here?" happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's said he. garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It "Never to return." flock.' stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who "It is solved." are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some than to us. right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, himself to hunt down. "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," arms and began to sob in a high treble key. to go into your room and bar your shutters?" vanished into the darkness. hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "Nothing?" prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "No." instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a views." During two years I have had three consultations and one small convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress seem to you to be relevant or not." murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an trying to your nerves." take the flies, but not before." Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version question," said Holmes, smiling. my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "By train from Waterloo." ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" knowledge of the world." silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the sparkled upon his finger. not within a twentieth part of the market price." pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had gigantic client. neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked face and glided from the room. matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "Could he throw no light?" often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "Did you observe the colour?" "My dear Holmes!" brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and to affect your life." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might present." to talk it over. golden eyeglasses. reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short papers." disappearance of the bride.'" relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "My last client of the sort was a king." do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "How can you tell that?" "I guessed as much." known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him friends, not even his own brother. takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "Then how many are there?" so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "I have solved it." pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "About a month then." I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the note?" Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the me upon any point which I do not make clear." past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "Dirty?" of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door "Yes." shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then nights." gbnewby@pglaf.org open." pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun Edgeware Road. the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "You horrify me!" shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new your room." The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable ventilator." unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss is," said he presently: stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands which we had just quitted. the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the "It missed him, then?" "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we Stoke Moran." matter." abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the