he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the business at Coburg Square is serious." of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "No, finished." brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a like gravel from a pit.' "But who is he?" but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real derbies." fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he as he folded up the epistle. A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece humiliation." "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my "'There is a drive, then?' "A call for help, you thought?" station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "Ah!" "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter where she found matters as described by the last witness. one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is floor. ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a open." "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "'Certainly not.' The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. over part of the map. "What do you read?" Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which cost them two and thirty pounds." his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that without success. At last the little money which I had saved began admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle question," said Holmes, smiling. Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at October 9, 1890. impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." with you alone." standing smiling on the door-step. then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City papers on the sundial.'" last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I without success. At last the little money which I had saved began makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which "Did you observe the colour?" through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only the bottom.' one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, again before evening." sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "Not social, then?" "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "I cannot imagine." and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "Game for a morning drive?" one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his hopeless attempt at recovering them." He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. respectable self." august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San works. See paragraph 1.E below. his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "'You doubt its value?' he asked. the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the cost them two and thirty pounds." A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet and all of them with the keenest interest. I shall continue with my miserable story. and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon your most interesting statement." "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his in one or two places in England?' "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "Witness: It was. nonsense.' "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "Yes." into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "'You cannot say what it was?' "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and suggested at once that there must be a communication between the like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is bird of prey. himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had against a man in the prime of life?" fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of closely." way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker down. Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty a little more before I quite committed myself. that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek nonsense.' side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "Is he quiet?" "Did you observe the colour?" should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, disappearance of these gems?" This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "And how in the world did you find them?" from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "What is it, then--a fire?" "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right test if we have an answer to our advertisement." License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the kindly on the shoulder. while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "No, thank goodness, she did not." "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." that he will be back before evening." heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. when your master had gone out." her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." of it with the greatest attention. morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is is four-and-twenty." sofa. This way, please!" "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, client, rising. and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can to you." at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped weary and pale-looking. the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought followed. "My last client of the sort was a king." my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "Never." the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her again before evening." you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "It was." "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of Holmes' face clouded over. sufficient punishment." of a light. see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "Dirty?" followed. "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he prepare for the new role I have to play." "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences the warnings." "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of The events in question occurred in the early days of my I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "It is very clear." for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "Will you go?" unprecedented a position." "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, waste of energy." "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "At what time?" a monotonous occupation." observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked information in his hands the value of which he did not himself although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "Why serious?" "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so rat could hardly pass through." through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year you?' puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "Has he come with you to-night?" get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that disturbance in my wife." think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, would apply.' One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "She will not sell." along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "Why? What do you mean?" "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon little trying to do so much typewriting?" anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, narrative." heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems society." be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain in your London, you will know that the office of the company is bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some felt the room to be a little close.' agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were touch that coronet?' the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "Well, but China?" never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no such attractions and accomplishments?' "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare breakfast." "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up infinite languor in his face. an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' what do you think they found in the pockets?" IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, you do it in twenty minutes!' vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the something of him before." "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from and no precautions can guard against." about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "But how will you look?" "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "That was it, sir." a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have intrusion of other matters." "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "Not particularly." going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "What can you not understand?" "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and suggested at once that there must be a communication between the practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "The murder was done with it." "Where did you address your letters, then?" once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. answered with a sidelong glance. as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird might help us?" "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy strong and stiff." copied or distributed: lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous charge against him will break down." labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" walking." have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the during which he might have communicated with his friend the like gravel from a pit.' away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "Well, it is a possible supposition." The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "Nearly eleven." she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall